Contact our offices
Make an enquiry
How can we help?
Navigating the complexities of divorce can be challenging, but with Stephensons’ online divorce solicitors, the process becomes straightforward and stress-free. Our dedicated team of expert online divorce solicitors offers a tailored, fixed-fee service designed to simplify your divorce. Whether you’re dealing with straightforward arrangements or more complex matters involving property, children, or pensions, we’re here to provide professional guidance and support every step of the way. Take the hassle out of your divorce with our trusted online service.
Online divorce was introduced in 2022 with the aim to make the process of separating easier for couples whose marriage has irretrievably broken down. The application for an online divorce can be made by one person as a sole applicant or by the couple together as joint applicants. If the application is uncontested and there are no issues about the costs there will be no need to attend court. The online divorce process will take a minimum of six months to be finalised providing there are no delays, and all documentation is provided on time.
If you require representation from a solicitor in relation to divorce proceedings our specialist divorce law solicitors can help. Please call 0161 696 6193 to speak to a member of our team.
Solicitor Emma Roberts explains how the online digital divorce process works and what is involved including the conditions for divorce eligibility, the fees involved in the process, applying for the conditional order, applying for the final order and the importance financial settlement orders.
Even though there are platforms available online now, that allow you to file for divorce by yourself, this might only suit a limited amount of people. Attempting a DIY divorce to save some money, if you have children, property and pensions to consider, could end up actually costing you thousands of pounds in the future.
With our fixed-fee divorce solicitor service you are assured that our family law experts will take care of all the hundreds of paperwork and filings for you so that you are able to get your divorce smoothly.
You will have full representation in the process of the divorce, right from the beginning until the end. Your lawyer will take care of all communication with your spouse or their lawyer and with the courts so that any problems or violations can be resolved quickly, without regard to the stress they caused you.
If you’re thinking of a divorce, our local divorce solicitors male or female, are qualified and have a vast amount of experience with family law and divorce. If you need professional assistance during your divorce, you can count on us to provide one.
The first thing you will need to do is to make sure that you meet the eligibility criteria to be able to get a divorce. The criteria are as follows:
Before you start the online divorce process we recommend that you try to reach an agreement in relation to your children and your financial assets. If you are able to you should try to talk through the practical day to day arrangements for your children such as where they will spend their time, who with and when, as well as financial arrangements for their care. Having agreed arrangements in place can help children to adjust to their new circumstances, giving them routine and consistency on which they thrive. It is important when making these decisions that you consider what is in their best interests and best for their happiness.
If you are unable to come to an agreement you may need professional support. A mediator can help and support you to reach an agreement that is acceptable to all involved parties, this may involve including your children in these conversations. Applying to the court should be used as a last resort if mediation proves to be unsuccessful.
Dividing financial assets can also lead to disputes in what may have otherwise been an amicable separation. You need to agree how to split things such as property, cars, investments, pensions and other assets. Again, it may be useful to involve a mediator to reach an agreement, otherwise a solicitor can negotiate a settlement. Once an agreement is reached it is highly advised that you make a financial settlement order to make the agreement legally binding. This will give you certainty and security in the future. A clean break financial settlement order ensures that your financial affairs are completely severed from the other in the future and on death and any future claims to your finances by your ex-partner will be dismissed. Without this order your ex-spouse could make a financial claim at any time in the future which can sometimes arise years after separation and divorce.
If you are unable to agree on how to divide your financial assets and mediation was unsuccessful or inappropriate you can apply to the court to help where a judge will take into account what is fair and reasonable.
To begin your online divorce application, you will need the following pieces of information:
You will be required to pay a fee of £593* on sending the application to court. You will need to do this by credit or debit card for online applications. If you are in receipt of benefits or on a low income you may be exempt from paying some or all of the fee but will need to complete a EX160 form which can be found online.
You will be asked to create a secure login and then directed through the online process step by step.
Your application details will be checked and if they are found to be accurate the court will send out:
Joint applicants must complete all the documents together so there needs to be co-operation throughout the case.
Once a joint application has been processed by the court there is a minimum waiting period of 20 weeks before a joint application can be made for a conditional order (previously decree nisi). Once the conditional order is granted there is a further waiting period of a minimum of six weeks before you can make an application for the final order (previously decree absolute). The final order will be sent out by the court once granted.
Given the length of the process it is possible that during that time joint applicants may find themselves in disagreement about the divorce or the agreements for children and assets. If this is the case and the one of the applicants refuse to sign paperwork action will need to be taken to move things forward without their involvement.
If you are a sole applicant your ex-partner will be sent a copy of the application and details of how to respond to it. They are given a limited time to do this and if they intend to dispute it they will need to have grounds to do so.
You will be advised how to apply for the conditional order but you will have to wait for the appropriate date before you can. The court will tell you when this is. On receiving the application, the court will look at it along with your partners response. It must be satisfied that you have the grounds for divorce and that all the documents are accurate. You will then receive a notice confirming that you are entitled to a divorce and the date when the conditional order will be made which will be sent to you once granted with information about the next steps.
You will be able to apply for the final order six weeks after the conditional order is granted. You are not divorced until the final order is made; only on that date does your marriage formally come to an end. The court will send you the final order. This is an important legal document that you need to keep safe as you may be required to produce it from time to time as evidence of your divorce.
Our family law team have many years of experience advising and representing people in divorce proceedings. If you are separating from your partner and wish to begin the divorce process call us today on 0161 696 6193 or complete our online enquiry form.
Our professional solicitors at Stephensons would be glad to assist you with Online Divorce if you are looking for any guidance. We offer live chat, email, and phone support and at every stage of the process we assure you to provide great care and knowledge about the matter. Reach out to us by today and get your stress-free solution.
Related services
Related content
loading staff
The law does not contain any specific provision for Christmas arrangements. The court would recommend that separated parents try to reach an agreement between themselves about who a child should spend Christmas with. The court system should only be used as...
In case both parties are in agreement over the divorce, and there are no disagreements regarding children or finances, you can finalise a divorce online. Even though online divorce services make the process simple, it is worth noting that complicated...
Family reorder
