Is easy divorce possible?
Discussion
The relationship with my wife of 7 years has broken down, and we've accepted that we need to part. Things are amicable and we're still living together atm, and whilst I know that things can change and we'll end up in a fight to the death at some point etc, assuming things stay amicable is it actually possible to do a divorce on the quick and cheap?
- We've come to an agreement regarding finances, the proceeds of the house sale, big items we own together etc. We're both happy to sign a document agreeing this.
- There's no kids. Neither of us want anything else in the future from the other with regards to pensions, savings etc.
- I've no problem with her wanting divorce on the grounds of unreasonable behaviour and wouldn't contest a divorce based on me not giving her enough attention etc. That's basically what happened anyway, I've fallen out of love with her and there wasn't anyone else.
Before I go and engage the services of a solicitor, is it possible to almost DIY the divorce process with the courts, draw up the agreement ourselves and simply get it witnessed by a solicitor? Or is that a bit too simplistic? We both feel that there's no need to spend thousands on solicitors when we've done the hard work ourselves really.
Thanks folks
- We've come to an agreement regarding finances, the proceeds of the house sale, big items we own together etc. We're both happy to sign a document agreeing this.
- There's no kids. Neither of us want anything else in the future from the other with regards to pensions, savings etc.
- I've no problem with her wanting divorce on the grounds of unreasonable behaviour and wouldn't contest a divorce based on me not giving her enough attention etc. That's basically what happened anyway, I've fallen out of love with her and there wasn't anyone else.
Before I go and engage the services of a solicitor, is it possible to almost DIY the divorce process with the courts, draw up the agreement ourselves and simply get it witnessed by a solicitor? Or is that a bit too simplistic? We both feel that there's no need to spend thousands on solicitors when we've done the hard work ourselves really.
Thanks folks
If it really is going to be that simple, the answer is yes.
You can do a divorce on line now straight through the court service for £550. That purely deals with the formality of ending your marriage.
You then need to follow that with a ‘Clean Break’ order which deals with your finances. As long as you and your wife are happy to fill in the paperwork and not argue about anything, it really could be that simple.
I get some legal advice from a solicitor a while back to pre-empt my divorce. His advice was ‘The best advice I can give you is keep it amicable and don’t involve a solicitor’.... says all you need to know.
You can do a divorce on line now straight through the court service for £550. That purely deals with the formality of ending your marriage.
You then need to follow that with a ‘Clean Break’ order which deals with your finances. As long as you and your wife are happy to fill in the paperwork and not argue about anything, it really could be that simple.
I get some legal advice from a solicitor a while back to pre-empt my divorce. His advice was ‘The best advice I can give you is keep it amicable and don’t involve a solicitor’.... says all you need to know.
Yes it is possible, I managed it even though she was cheating on me hence the divorce. We did via divorce online with No solicitors involved.
However you MUST be able to agree on everything that is to be sorted, finances, house, car/s.
Total cost oh our divorce (2010/2011) was just shy of £4k including all court / mortgage / divorce online costs. (this doesn't include her pay off but we agreed)
However you MUST be able to agree on everything that is to be sorted, finances, house, car/s.
Total cost oh our divorce (2010/2011) was just shy of £4k including all court / mortgage / divorce online costs. (this doesn't include her pay off but we agreed)
Been there - so long as you both behave reasonably it is eminently possible to keep the costs to a minimum - can't recall ours but it was about £200 ish for the Court fees (thereabouts, and that may have just been my half, it was a few years ago now). We had a couple of children to contend with too.
But we agreed everything ourselves, some pretty tough conversations, and stuck with it throughout. I probably ended up giving away a little more but suspect it was still cheaper than legal costs and certainly worth it for an easier life then and going forward.
If you think you can make it work that way then I would absolutely recommended it.
Do get a clean break financial spousal settlement as part of this though.
Sorry to hear your relationship has broken down, hope you're OK. Mine was an easy break with no other's 'involved' but it still wasn't the best time of my life.
But we agreed everything ourselves, some pretty tough conversations, and stuck with it throughout. I probably ended up giving away a little more but suspect it was still cheaper than legal costs and certainly worth it for an easier life then and going forward.
If you think you can make it work that way then I would absolutely recommended it.
Do get a clean break financial spousal settlement as part of this though.
Sorry to hear your relationship has broken down, hope you're OK. Mine was an easy break with no other's 'involved' but it still wasn't the best time of my life.
When i got divorced (she started the process), we went to mediation at a cost of £190 per person per session. After the 1st meeting i agreed i don't want to continue in this marriage.
Clean break agreement duly drawn up by her solicitor (i didn't bother with one) and 2 more mediation sessions and job done!
All i wanted was my daughter out of it, which i got on a 50/50 straight sharing. Yes, she still lives in the 'family' house and she still has the house in Yorkshire but in the end i was glad to get out of the situation.
Was served papers Christmas 2015, moved out March 2016 and decree absolute July 2016 just after our wedding anniversary!!!
We split the court costs etc.....
Since then best 3 years of my life!!
Good luck
Tom
Clean break agreement duly drawn up by her solicitor (i didn't bother with one) and 2 more mediation sessions and job done!
All i wanted was my daughter out of it, which i got on a 50/50 straight sharing. Yes, she still lives in the 'family' house and she still has the house in Yorkshire but in the end i was glad to get out of the situation.
Was served papers Christmas 2015, moved out March 2016 and decree absolute July 2016 just after our wedding anniversary!!!
We split the court costs etc.....
Since then best 3 years of my life!!
Good luck
Tom
My ex and I divorced 15 years ago and it was all very grown up and amicable. We decided between ourselves how we wanted to do things and went off to the solicitors together to explain how we wanted things done. Bearing in mind we had 3 houses, multiple cars, various joint savings, investments and debts the solicitor (not surprisingly) made clear that one of us would need independent advice from another firm in relation to the final agreement. I'm sure our final combined costs was in the region of £500.
Well, that's many more positive replies than I thought I might get, thank you all
Without being that guy who asks to get spoonfed everything, is there a single page that explains the whole process with regards to what's needed on a clean break agreement and the court process? I've had a quick nose around, but most websites just assume the other party is trying to screw you over and take a really harsh view on everything.
Whilst I won't pretend that still living with her doesn't present the odd challenge, we're both being adult about the whole thing even when one party is moving on with their life with a new partner. Life does indeed go on.
Without being that guy who asks to get spoonfed everything, is there a single page that explains the whole process with regards to what's needed on a clean break agreement and the court process? I've had a quick nose around, but most websites just assume the other party is trying to screw you over and take a really harsh view on everything.
Whilst I won't pretend that still living with her doesn't present the odd challenge, we're both being adult about the whole thing even when one party is moving on with their life with a new partner. Life does indeed go on.
My suggestion would be that you jointly write down and agree everything in the proposed settlement in your own words. Assets, future payments, pensions, the whole lot. Then one of you get a solicitor to draw it up into an agreement, and the other one get a different solicitor to read it through before signing. The cost will be peanuts in the overall context, and it will minimise the risk of having the agreement set aside or varied in the future.
Been there done that...
AVOID AVOID AVOID using a solicitor... I ended up falling out with my solicitor just before the final hearing just because they were crap, and barrister wanted £1500 for the representation, I ended up representing myself and I was happy knowing I'd saved extra £££ in the process.
My solicitor fees were £10k before I told them to P* off...
AVOID AVOID AVOID using a solicitor... I ended up falling out with my solicitor just before the final hearing just because they were crap, and barrister wanted £1500 for the representation, I ended up representing myself and I was happy knowing I'd saved extra £££ in the process.
My solicitor fees were £10k before I told them to P* off...
Boosted LS1 said:
I ought to get divorced at some point. No financial links with the wife. We own our own homes. Been apart for 8 years. Can I simply fill in forms or will I need her cooperation at some point?
Yes living apart for 2-3 years i think its about £350.00 in total download the forms from the HMRCGassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff