The person initiating the divorce submits a divorce application to the court and is thereafter known as the Applicant. If your ex-partner has already done that, then you will be referred to as the Respondent. The divorce process requires different actions of Applicants and Respondents at different times, and there are strategic implications for both, especially if one of you lives overseas.

In England & Wales, for straightforward divorce cases, the process can take between 6 – 8 months. On average, the whole process takes approximately one year. Longer than 12 months is common for cases where there are drawn out disagreements on child and financial matters. It is impossible to predict exactly how long a divorce will take, though a good a divorce lawyer will help give you an educated estimate.

In England & Wales, a divorce costs £593 for the application, plus any solicitor fees and court fees (if applicable). Going to court tends to make divorce more expensive due to court, barrister and additional solicitor fees.

The cleanest and most cost-effective divorces are those where both parties reach an agreement on how to divorce including arrangements for children and the division of assets. Doing so will minimise the amount of solicitor time and the possibility of litigation in court.

Child arrangements depend largely on what the family decides, the suitability of each parent, the child’s wishes and where applicable, the ruling of a family court Judge. Resulting arrangements can include sole custody, where one parent is the sole caretaker of the child, joint custody and third-party custody where a third party such as a grandparent becomes responsible for the child’s welfare.

As a starting point in a divorce, assets are split 50:50.  As the family home is often the largest asset in the matrimonial pot, then it is common for it to be split between the parties. If a family has other assets, then the house could be given to one party and the other assets to the other.  Children are another factor that affects financial arrangements during a divorce. To answer this question accurately, a comprehensive understanding will be required of your family finances.

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