Divorce and Separation
We will take you through the legal separation process with sensitivity and expertise, making it as straightforward and swift as possible. Along the way we will resolve any financial and property issues that arise and reach a settlement that is right for you.
When it comes to divorce and separation, you can trust that our divorce solicitors will provide sound divorce legal advice to guide you through this difficult time. Our experienced divorce solicitors take you through the legal aspects of divorce and separation with sensitivity and expertise, making it as straightforward and swift as possible. Throughout the legal separation process or divorce proceedings, we will resolve any financial and property issues that arise and reach a settlement that is right for you.
How Can We Help with Divorce Legal Advice?
Our team of divorce solicitors will be on hand to support and advise you and pride themselves on being extremely accessible to their clients.
Emotions run high when a marriage is in turmoil or breaks down. All of our divorce solicitors have spent many years helping clients who may be feeling upset, angry and confused. Our primary focus is to put you at ease, discuss your situation and plan the best outcome for you.
What Should You Do Next?
In both divorce and separation cases, we advise our clients to seek help from divorce solicitors sooner rather than later if you feel that you need to discuss divorce or separation from your spouse. When it comes to legal divorce advice, our divorce solicitors offer a free initial consultation so that you can explain your situation and we can advise the best course of action for you.
What Happens at That First Consultation?
During your first meeting with one of our divorce solicitors, we will discuss why your relationship has broken down, if you have any children, your initial thoughts about the future and your income, savings, pensions and assets. We will then discuss the best way forward to achieve the best possible outcome for you and talk you through the legal separation process. Sometimes divorce might not be the route that you want to take, and separation may be a preferred route for you.
How Can I Begin the Legal Separation Process?
If a relationship has broken down, but you are not sure if it is permanent, you might want to explore separation. Our divorce solicitors will offer you practical solutions and advice in reaching an agreement with your spouse about your children, your property, income and pensions. If at some stage you decide that divorce is the right option for you, agreements made during separation can form the basis of discussions moving forward.
Further Divorce and Separation Information and Key Terms
What is a Decree Nisi?
Once the divorce petition has been acknowledged and agreed by your spouse, a judge will review all the documentation to ensure that there are proper grounds for divorce. If the judge is satisfied, a Decree Nisi will be granted.
What is a Decree Absolute?
The final stage of a divorce is when the Decree Absolute is granted.
Being granted a Decree Absolute means that you are no longer married and are free to re-marry. An application for a Decree Absolute can be made six weeks and one day from the date of the Decree Nisi.
The Five Grounds for Divorce
Adultery
Divorce proceedings can be issued if your spouse has had sexual intercourse with someone else. However, it is not sufficient to ‘suspect’ that adultery has taken place even if your spouse has begun a new relationship. If you intend to cite adultery in divorce proceedings, it is advisable that your spouse openly admits adultery before divorce proceedings are issued.
Unreasonable Behaviour
Unreasonable behaviour is the most common reason for divorce. You can cite unreasonable behaviour in a divorce petition if you feel that your spouse has behaved in such a way that you cannot reasonably be expected to live with him/her.
Two Years’ Separation with Consent
If you have lived continuously apart from your spouse for two years or more, you can issue divorce proceedings on the grounds of ‘two years of separation with consent’. The consent of your spouse is needed to issue divorce proceedings.
Desertion
You can issue divorce proceedings on the grounds of desertion if your spouse has ‘deserted’ you for two years or more. Desertion as a grounds for divorce is not often used.
Five Years’ Separation
If you have lived apart from your spouse continuously for five years or more, you can issue divorce proceedings. Under these circumstances, you do not need the consent of your spouse.
Dissolving a Civil Partnership
To dissolve a civil partnership, the relationship needs to have irretrievably broken down. Dissolution proceedings cannot be issued on the grounds of adultery in civil partnerships.
How to Arrange a Free Consultation
You can contact any of our family law and divorce solicitors through the Family Law section of the website by phone or email. Alternatively, you can email us here info@newtons.co.uk and a member of our divorce and family law team will be in touch. We have offices across Yorkshire and the North East, including; Knaresborough, Harrogate, York, Ripon, Darlington, Richmond, Stokesley Wakefield and Thirsk.
Please also see our Frequently Asked Questions section below.
Frequently Asked Questions
For more advice regarding divorce and separation, please contact our team of divorce solicitors today.
Our family law team is here to help.
Please call us to find out how we can help. We have offices across Yorkshire and the North East, including; Knaresborough, Harrogate, York, Ripon, Darlington, Richmond, Stokesley, Northallerton, Thirsk, Beverley, Durham and Stockton. We can talk on the phone or arrange a meeting where we can discuss your options and give you a clear idea of timeframes and costs.
Alternatively, please contact us online and we’ll call you back when it’s convenient for you.