What’s the quickest way to get divorced in the UK?

The quickest way to get divorced in the UK is to agree the divorce from the outset and remain uncontested throughout. When both spouses agree and cooperate, the process is simpler and cheaper, which helps the application move through the court system without avoidable delays.

Submitting a joint divorce application is the fastest procedural option. A joint application for divorce confirms mutual agreement immediately and removes the need for response deadlines. This allows the court to process your application without waiting for acknowledgements or dealing with procedural pauses.

Avoiding disputes keeps the court’s role purely administrative. In an uncontested divorce, there is no need for court hearings or judicial intervention, which significantly reduces the overall timeline and prevents the process from stalling.

Applying online and resolving any final issues quickly helps maintain momentum. Using mediation where needed and submitting the application digitally through an online divorce service, such as Divorce-Online, reduces errors, speeds up processing, and keeps the divorce moving forward efficiently.

The most recent UK Government figures show the national average timeline for a divorce is around 42 weeks from application to Final Order.

By contrast, last year, Divorce-Online clients typically achieved a Final Order within 28 weeks. A more streamlined and uncontested approach can speed up the divorce process by several months.

Key factors that make a divorce faster in England and Wales

The single most important factor is clear agreement from the outset. When both spouses agree on the divorce itself and have aligned expectations around finances and arrangements for children, there is reduced friction, and the process moves through the court system without interruption.

Keeping matters simple reduces scrutiny and delay. Divorces with no children, straightforward finances, and no pensions or property to divide progress more quickly because the court does not need to examine complex arrangements or fairness issues in detail.

Avoiding contested financial proceedings is critical. Financial disputes that require court involvement can add many months, and sometimes years, to a divorce. Resolving issues outside of court can significantly reduce the timescales.

Getting the paperwork right the first time prevents avoidable setbacks. Incorrect or incomplete forms are a common cause of delay. Using a solicitor or specialist online divorce service ensures applications are accurate, compliant, and processed without being rejected or queried by the court.

What You Need To Know Before Getting a Divorce

You can obtain a quick divorce online in England and Wales in less time than the national average of 42 weeks, but only if your circumstances allow for it.

In 2026, the divorce process is largely an administrative procedure that is completed by the family court’s staff using the digital portal.

Fortunately, there are many things you can do to help speed up the process, one of which is the way they receive your paperwork.

How you file for divorce is likely to be the biggest contributing factor to how long your divorce will take.

The traditional method of filing paper forms is much slower than applying for a divorce online through the government’s digital platform.

I want a quick divorce – Start my divorce online today for £199.

Where you live will also affect how quickly you can obtain a divorce.

If you live in London, it’s even more important that you seek an alternative to a high street solicitor for managing your divorce as timescales are even longer than the national average.

Myths About Getting a Quick or Quickie Divorce

It’s been known for other online divorce providers to advertise divorce services that finalise in less than 12 weeks. 

This is very misleading and only causes disappointment.

The government introduced a mandatory reflection period of 20 weeks between the Application and the Conditional Order to give couples more time to reconnect and/or discuss financial or children’s matters.

This change was made under the no fault divorce law, which was introduced on 6 April 2022.

There is also an obligatory ‘cooling off period’ of 6 weeks between the Conditional Order and the Final Order being granted to dissolve your marriage.

This 6 week period is where amicable couples can present their financial agreement to the court via a financial consent order to give the Judge time to make an order.

Furthermore, there are many things that need to happen before you can even get to the cooling-off stage, and 6 weeks is simply not enough time for that to happen.

Divorce, therefore, is a fairly slow process.

According to the latest Government figures on divorce timescales, it takes an average of 31 weeks just to reach the Conditional Order stage of divorce proceedings.