Can You Divorce Without a Lawyer?
Can you get a divorce without a lawyer or solicitor is a question many couples ask when contemplating divorce.
Divorce is never without stress or pain but does spending several thousands of pounds on divorce lawyers help ease that stress and pain or simply add to it?
Our step-by-step guide explains how you can get a divorce without a lawyer or solicitor and whether or not your situation is amicable enough to do it yourself.
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What are my options when it comes to getting divorced?
The majority of people seeking a divorce still assume that they’ll require the services of divorce solicitors in order to obtain a divorce.
Using divorce lawyers to obtain a divorce is the traditional method, but what are your options if you wish to divorce without lawyers in England or Wales?
It’s important you understand that in most cases, especially when parties are amicable, there isn’t usually a need for divorce lawyers.
Of course, it is always recommended that you obtain initial legal advice to understand your legal position.
If you have complex financial matters, children disputes, or a potential difficult ex-partner then, of course, instructing a lawyer to help you may be necessary.
However, the actual divorce procedure in England and Wales is largely a paperwork process and can be completed relatively easily without a solicitor.
This article aims to provide you with enough information to make an informed decision about whether your circumstances require the help of lawyers or not.
Who can get divorced without hiring solicitors?
There are no hard and fast rules for when you should or shouldn’t hire a solicitor to help you get divorced.
For couples who are in agreement to end their marriage, hiring a lawyer to handle your divorce is usually unnecessary.
If you have complex financial matters, children disputes, or a potential difficult ex-partner then, of course, instructing a lawyer to help you may be necessary.
Alternative solutions to divorce such as doing it yourself or using an online divorce service are recommended when;
- You have been married for at least 12 months
- You have agreed on the grounds for divorce
- You have no assets or money to divide
- You have an address for your spouse
- Both parties are in an agreement to divorce
Considerations to make before getting divorced
Divorce solicitors are expensive. If both parties seek legal representation, you will end up with bills into the many thousands (the average cost when dealing with finances is £8,000).
If you are on good enough terms and there is likely to be agreement, an alternative option may be a better solution.
Hiring divorce solicitors can also make the divorce process more acrimonious as each party may be advised to take different actions to what has already been agreed, so be mindful of this before deciding whether to do your divorce with or without a lawyer.
There are a range of alternative options available to help you divorce without lawyers, such as;
Alternative options to hiring a divorce lawyer;
- DIY Divorce – You can file your own divorce papers if you are comfortable with dealing with the legal process of divorce and ending your finances.
- Online Divorce – Divorce-Online can help you obtain a divorce in a more efficient manner, whilst also saving you thousands on legal fees.
- Mediation – If you are struggling to come to an agreement, you can use mediation to help with this. You can then decide whether to use an alternative method to draw up the legal agreements or hire a lawyer to do this.
No-Fault Divorce will make it easier for couples to get divorced without a lawyer
Typically, you may require the assistance of a solicitor if you believe that your ex-partner will be difficult or non-compliant during the divorce proceedings.
The introduction of no-fault divorce on 6 April 2022 will make it easier for couples to obtain a divorce due to removal of adversarial and long separation grounds for divorce.
This change to the divorce law will make it easier for couples to file for divorce if they have an uncooperative ex-partner, negating the need to instruct lawyers.
For further information on what the no-fault divorce law changes mean for you, read our introduction to the new no-fault divorce law.
Start Your Divorce Online From £199
For couples who are in an agreement to divorce, there is rarely a need to spend thousands on instructing local solicitors. Find out more information about our low-cost online divorce services.