Relationships & Family Law FAQs

You cannot start a divorce until you have been married for at least 12 months and you must show that the marriage has broken down and cannot be saved.

 

 

Under the "no-fault" divorce procedure you only need to show that your marriage has irretrievably broken down. This statement that the marriage has irretrievably broken down is taken as fact. This means the divorce cannot be contested or objected to by one of the parties if they do not want to be divorced.

 

 

You can apply to the court for a separation, this is known as a "Judicial Separation" or you can simply decide to separate without involving the court.

 

 

You do not need to have been married for 12 months or more. Also, you do not need to show that marriage or civil partnership has irretrievably broken down.

 

 

Yes. But, the advantage of using the court for a legal separation is that you can then also sort out any disagreements about who is to care for the children and also disagreements about dividing the money and property. A court order will stop your partner from breaking the agreement. If you and your partner can agree about money matters and the children you may still want to apply for a Judicial Separation Order. For this you will not need to involve the court, only a solicitor is required.

 

 

It is always best to get legal advice especially if children and money are involved.

 

However, you may not be able to afford a solicitor and may not be entitled under the Legal Help Scheme, see Legal Aid.

 

You can start the divorce or judicial separation proceedings yourself but you may need advice from a solicitor about money matters and children later on.

 

If you are claiming Income Support or being advised under the Legal Help Scheme you will not have to pay a court fee. You will need to complete a Fees Exemption Form.

 

The forms come with instructions on how to complete them and the court can explain to you what else you will need to do.

 

You will need to give the court your original marriage certificate. If you do not have one you can get a certified copy from the General Register Office.

 

 

If your partner starts the divorce you will be sent copies of the divorce papers by the court. This will include an "Acknowledgment of Service Form". You must fill in this form to say whether or not you agree to the divorce, you must then send this form back to the court.

 

 

Not necessarily.

If your partner owns the property in which you live and you and your partner are married then your solicitor can protect your interest by registering a "Notice" on the title deeds to the property. This warns other people that you have an interest in the property.

 

If your partner tries to sell the property without you knowing then this notice will tell any buyer that you have an interest in the property. This will also stop your partner re-mortgaging the property without you knowing.

 

This will protect your interest until your solicitor is able to apply to the court for a judge to decide whether you should stay in the property or not.

 

The judge has the power to transfer the property to you even if it is not in your name.

 

The judge can also decide whether the property should be sold and whether you should receive money from the sale.

 

If the property is rented the judge can still decide to transfer the property to you, the council will have to put your name on the rent book.

 

 

If you own the property jointly with your partner then you are allowed to return to it.

 

Your partner should either supply you with new keys or put the old locks back. You may need to get a solicitor to write a letter to your partner.

 

If this does not work then you may need to apply to the court for an order that your partner must let you back in.

 

If you have been violent to your partner the court may not let you back in to the property for the time being.

 

 

No. Joint ownership of the property will not change unless your partner obtains a court order or you agree to transfer your share of the property to your partner or the house is sold.

 

You are still liable to pay the mortgage as is your partner. You should try to agree to divide the payments.

However, the longer they remain living with your partner the more difficult it may be to convince the court to change the arrangements.

 

 

If you need urgent help to pay the bills you can apply to the judge for urgent maintenance, this is called "Interim Maintenance". Your solicitor will be able to tell you more about this. You may get weekly or monthly payments from your partner or the court may tell your partner that they should pay the mortgage or rent instead of you. You can apply for maintenance even if you are still living together and are still married.

 

 

If the children are living with you then your partner should pay to help you look after them. If your partner is not paying any money for the children then you can apply to the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) formerly the Child Support Agency (CSA). They are the government agency responsible for collecting money for you from your partner, to help you look after your children.

 

 

This is a difficult job for a judge, because they have to be fair to both you and your partner.

 

Before the judge can make a decision he or she must have all the information about your income, expenses, property that you own, savings, insurance policies, pensions and shares etc. Your partner also has to give the same information to the court.

 

Your solicitor will therefore need to collect all this information from you.

 

After you separate you should keep copies of all your bank statements, wage slips, bills and anything you have had to pay out. This will help your solicitor prepare the information for the judge.

 

The judge has to look at what both you and your partner need and what you can both afford. He also needs to consider whether you or your partner are looking after the children as whoever is may need more money. The judge has to consider other things such as the length of the marriage, your ages and your ability to work and earn money etc.

 

 

You should tell HMRC as your separation may effect your tax position. If you receive benefits you may be entitled to some additional help.

 

 

Even if you are not married, but you have children you can still apply for maintenance for your children through the Child Maintenance Service (CMS).

 

If you own a property together and you want to sell but your partner does not, you can apply to the court and ask them to decide. The court can also decide if one of you should stay in the property.

 

If only your partner owns the property you may still be able to show you have a share in the property. For example, if you have paid for improvements to the property or helped to pay the mortgage, you may be entitled to claim a share in the property. Or if it was always intended that you should have a share in the property.

 

If you cannot show that you have a share in the property, but you have children together, you may be able to make a claim for a share of the property on the children's behalf. This can be done under the Children's Act, your solicitor will be able to tell you more.