Divorce Specialists

Our family law specialists understand that one partner may not predict a divorce being imminent. You may have received divorce documentation from your partner or their representatives. We notice this is a shocking time and you may not know what to do. Our divorce specialists can look to review the documents with you and guide you through the process and discuss your options.

It is difficult to advise on the time as each case varies based on individual circumstances. Under the pre-2022 procedure, an agreed divorce could reach decree absolute in around four to six months. This no longer applies. Since 6 April 2022 there is a minimum 20-week period between application and conditional order, then a further 6 weeks and 1 day before the final order — a statutory minimum of around 26 weeks, and usually longer in practice.

Contested divorces occur when the spouses cannot agree and will look for a Court to make the decision on how they should arrange the split. Factors such as matrimonial properties, spousal support and custody of any children shared may be included in the Court’s decision. These contested divorce matters can take longer to finalise.

Our divorce law specialists work with contested divorce cases in which one person within the marriage refuses to agree to a legal separation. Although these divorce claims are rare, contested divorces can be extremely complicated if you are not seeking professional advice.

Divorce claims can also be difficult where many assets and finances are involved. Advise must be sought immediately to ensure as well as obtaining a divorce you are also obtaining what you are entitled to. It may be beneficial to resolve the financial aspect at the same time as proceeding with a divorce to avoid lengthy proceedings. If you want to learn more about contested divorce and divorce claims get in touch with one of our experts who would be able to assist.

At Kabir Family Law we understand divorce is a difficult time and could affect individuals financially. We are able to provide a fixed fee divorce advisory service for cases where the divorce is agreed by both parties and just needs to be legally finalised. This option is tailored to your individual circumstances and allows you to see how much you will be charged for each stage of your divorce process, with tailored advice if you need help deciding whether divorce or annulment is the right route for your personal circumstances.

However, we’re able to work with assisting on any type of divorce claim throughout any stage in the process – even if you’re just getting started and are looking for a divorce expert to help assist you build your legal case.

Can you work with international divorces?

Absolutely, depending on whether you are eligible to pursue a divorce in the UK Courts. We represent client’s who live outside of the UK and wish to use the UK Court system to pursue a divorce. There are a complex set of rules that apply when dealing with divorces being brought by a spouse from outside of the UK. We would suggest that you contact us to arrange a consultation to explore your options.  

Can I still get divorced if I’ve lost my marriage certificate?

If you were married in the UK and you’ve lost your marriage certificate, it’s possible to still get a divorce. However, you will need to get a duplicate copy from the registrar office in order to proceed.

How long does a divorce take?

Depending on whether or not co-operation from both spouses is present, a divorce usually takes four to six months to complete.

There are various ways of resolving financial matters during the divorce process, but ultimately it depends on whether you and your partner can reach an agreement through mediation or collaborative law.

Often, couples will create a financial settlement after a divorce. This can be laid-out by the couple if they’re able to work together fairly, although a judge has the authority to create a settlement on behalf of spouses who are not willing to co-operate. Even then, you may still need a court order to make financial arrangements binding and enforceable after divorce or annulment.

The judge will weigh out the needs of both sides, carefully assessing:

• The income and earning capacity of both parties
• The age of both parties
• The duration of the marriage
• The standard of living enjoyed by the family before the breakdown of the marriage
• The physical and mental capacity of both parties
• The parties Form E’s

If both parties had signed a pre-nuptial agreement before the marriage took place, this may be used to decide how finances are arranged when the divorce has been completed.

However, if court proceedings become inevitable, rest assured that our separation and divorce specialists will be at hand for practical advice, robust assistance and legal support at each stage, including the legal implications for financial claims and child arrangements.

A final order ends your marriage. It does not end financial claims between you.

Without a financial order approved by the court, your former spouse can bring a claim years later — after an inheritance, after a business succeeds, after a property is sold. We see this discovered far too late to fix cheaply.

If you take one thing from this page: a divorce without a financial consent order is unfinished.