How long does a divorce or dissolution take?

The divorce and dissolution process in England and Wales changed on 6th April 2022, allowing couples to divorce or end their civil partnership without blaming the other for the breakdown of the relationship.

The new ‘no fault’ system allows the focus to be placed on key practical decisions such as the arrangements for the children and their financial situation.

An average divorce or dissolution takes around 6 to 8 months.

Once proceedings have commenced, there is now a minimum 20 week ‘cooling off period’ before the Conditional Order (half-way stage) can be applied for. This provides you with time to reflect on the breakdown of the marriage/civil partnership and to reconcile if possible. If reconciliation is not possible, the key practical arrangements such as child arrangements and finances can be discussed in this time.

Once the Conditional Order has been granted, there is a further waiting period of 6 weeks before the Final Order can be applied for.

The above relies on cooperation from both parties however there are many factors that can extend the length of the process, such as discussions around the financial settlement. We have also written three linked blogs on the key stages within a financial settlement and you can take a look at the first of these here: what is an FDA court hearing?

If you are contemplating separation or divorce then speak to our team of specialist Family lawyers who can help guide you through the process and ensure you secure the right outcome for you and your situation.