Uncontested Divorce in England and Wales
Without doubt agreeing to an uncontested divorce is the quickest & cheapest way to divorce in England & Wales.
We do understand that going through a divorce is very difficult and often extremely emotional. Divorce-Online was founded over 20 years ago to help couples that are both in agreement to seek an uncontested divorce to save time, stress and money.
90% of all divorces filed in England and Wales are uncontested, but what exactly is an uncontested divorce?
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What is an uncontested divorce UK?
An uncontested divorce is simply just a divorce, regardless of the reason for divorce, but where both parties agree to not formally defend the divorce.
Therefore, if you are both in agreement to the divorce then an uncontested divorce online provides a quicker, easier and cheaper way to divorce compared to using local divorce solicitors.
You won’t be expected to attend a court hearing and everything can be dealt with quickly and easily online with no face-to-face meetings necessary.
If you are unsure whether you qualify for an uncontested divorce online then just answer a few simple questions to find out. There will be no need to instruct a high-street solicitor and therefore you will save hundreds of pounds on the cost of your divorce.
Benefits to obtaining an uncontested divorce
Most people seeking an amicable divorce want to have it dealt with as quickly as possible, whilst saving money on solicitor’s fees and not having much stress.
Here’s why you should consider obtaining an uncontested divorce;
- More Affordable – The average saving when agreeing to divorce is over £750
- Quicker – An uncontested divorce can be finalised within 4-5 months, whereas contesting can prolong a divorce for years
- Stress-Free – There is less acrimony involved with uncontested cases, which therefore allows proceedings to move on
- Everything can be done online – You won’t need to take any time off of work or arrange childcare
- No court attendance required – When both are in agreement to the divorce you won’t need to visit the family divorce courts at any point
How long does an uncontested divorce take?
Timescales for the divorce process can vary on a case-by-case basis, which makes giving a precise timeline difficult. In reality though, the average time in England & Wales to go from filing the divorce petition to finally receiving a Decree Absolute is approximately 6 months.
For the most part the divorce process is actually quite slow. It can sometimes take up to 3 months to get a Decree Nisi and then 10 months for the Decree Absolute in some parts of the country.
However, there is a way to keep the time it takes for the divorce to a minimum, see our article: how long a divorce should take in which we outline the whole process and provide some tips to speed things up.
How much does an uncontested divorce cost?
The cost of a divorce varies depending on where you live, how complex your situation is and whether you are also sorting out your financial relationship.
However, divorce costs fall into two categories. Firstly, there are the court-filing fees that presently cost £593 in England & Wales. The court fee is payable whether you personally apply for a divorce or instruct a solicitor.
Secondly, there is the cost of legal fees associated with instructing a divorce solicitor. There is no definitive maximum as to how much a family law firm could charge, as it’s costed on an individual basis and will depend on whether you are charged by the hour or on a fixed fee basis.
It is estimated that divorce solicitors costs average £2,679 per spouse and couples with children can expect to pay even more. See below to find the most suitable fixed-fee divorce service for your circumstances and find out just how much you can save.
Find The Most Suitable Divorce Service
Use our simple qualification tool to see which service is the most suitable for you. Answer a few simple questions to be matched with the perfect service. We can help you divorce from just £59.
The Uncontested Divorce Procedure
When your divorce is uncontested, the procedure to obtain a divorce is relatively straightforward and can be completed quickly with a low amount of stress.
There is rarely a need to instruct solicitors in uncontested divorce cases other than receiving initial legal advice, which can ensure you keep the costs of your divorce to a minimum.
File a D8 divorce petition
To start divorce proceedings regardless of how you decide to process the divorce requires the completion of form D8. The divorce petition is the main document in any divorce and includes all of your personal and marital details, such as grounds for divorce.
Acknowledgement of Service
The courts will send your spouse a copy of the divorce papers, which they must sign and return to the courts. This is usually done within 7 days when couples are in agreement with the divorce.
Decree Nisi
You now must apply for permission to divorce, which is done by applying for the decree nisi. This stage of the divorce process essentially confirms that the Judge can see no reason in law why you can’t divorce.
Decree Absolute
The final decree requires a further application to the courts. This time, it’s the decree absolute, which is the final decree in proceedings and is the certificate that confirms your marriage has ended.
Compare Our Service vs High-Street Solicitors
If you are looking at online divorce solicitors for the first time and want to know how we are different to a traditional high-street solicitor family law firm then the comparisons below should help.
High-Street Solicitors
Online Divorce Solicitors
Fewer people actually visit expensive high-street family law premises anymore
Thousands more people each year are doing their divorce via online services
Many people dislike the inconvenience of traveling to and visiting offices for meetings
No need to take time off work to visit our offices for meetings
Excessive hourly fees provide no guarantee on the overall cost of your divorce
Our fixed fee services provide clarity from the start
Speaking to your solicitor via a receptionist can be frustrating and costly
Speak to your personal adviser directly at anytime throughout your case
Staying updated on your case requires you to chase for updates
Track your entire divorce procedure online, 24/7