Divorce

An elderly woman and man sitting side by side, looking down with concerned expressions. The woman is touching her forehead with her hand, and the man is slightly turned away, both appearing worried or contemplative.

In the UK, divorce proceedings have been transformed by the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2022, which introduced no-fault divorce as the sole ground for ending a marriage. This landmark reform eliminated the need for couples to either assign blame or endure lengthy separation periods, significantly reducing potential animosity in proceedings. While the divorce process itself has become more straightforward, we advise clients that resolving financial matters and children's arrangements often presents more complex challenges requiring separate applications. The principle of financial claims remaining open until dismissed by court order means we typically recommend delaying the Final Order until a financial settlement is reached and properly documented through a court order. While the divorce process might be relatively swift, achieving a fair financial settlement often requires detailed financial disclosure, negotiation, and potentially court proceedings if agreement cannot be reached through alternative dispute resolution methods such as mediation.