By Family Harmony – Clear, Calm, and Straightforward Support
Starting a divorce can feel overwhelming. Most people aren’t sure where to begin, what it costs, or whether they even need a solicitor.
Here’s the reality: the process itself is more straightforward than people think. It’s the emotions and decisions around children and finances that make it feel complicated.
Let’s walk through it step by step.
Check You Can Apply
Before anything else, you need to make sure you’re eligible.
You can apply for a divorce in England and Wales if:
- You’ve been married for at least one year
- Your relationship has irretrievably broken down (no need to prove fault anymore)
Since April 2022, we have “no-fault divorce”. That means:
- No blaming each other
- No long statements of allegations
- A much calmer starting point (in theory, at least)
Decide – Sole or Joint Application
You have two options:
- Sole application – one person applies
- Joint application – both apply together
A joint application can reduce conflict, but let’s be honest—many situations aren’t there yet, and that’s okay.
Submit the Application
You apply online through the government portal.
You’ll need:
- Your marriage certificate
- Basic personal details
- A £593 court fee (as of now)
Once submitted, the court issues the application and serves it to the other party (if sole).
The 20-Week Reflection Period
This is where people get frustrated—but it’s intentional.
There’s a minimum 20-week wait before you can move forward.
Why?
To give both parties time to:
- Reflect
- Try to agree arrangements
- Start sorting finances and children
This is where real progress should happen—not sitting back and waiting.
Conditional Order
After 20 weeks, you apply for the Conditional Order (used to be called Decree Nisi).
This is the court saying:
“We see no reason why this divorce can’t go ahead.”
Final Order
Six weeks later, you can apply for the Final Order.
This legally ends the marriage.
⚠️ Important (and often missed):
Do not rush to Final Order if finances are not resolved.
You could lose important financial claims.
What About Children and Finances?
Here’s the part most people misunderstand:
👉 Divorce is just the legal ending of the marriage.
👉 It does not deal with:
- Child arrangements
- Money
- Property
- Pensions
These are separate processes.
And this is where people either:
- Get it right… or
- Spend years undoing mistakes
Do You Need a Solicitor?
Short answer: not always.
Many people go through divorce without one, especially when:
- Communication is reasonable
- Both parties want a fair outcome
- They have the right guidance
What matters is understanding the process and making informed decisions.
Where Family Harmony Comes In
At Family Harmony, we support you through:
- Understanding each stage clearly
- Preparing for child arrangements
- Helping you organise your finances
- Drafting documents and statements
- Supporting you at court if needed
- We help you keep mre money in your family and not on expensive solicitor fees.
We focus on keeping things calm, structured, and child-focused—without the cost of traditional legal routes.
Starting a divorce isn’t about “winning” or “losing”.
It’s about:
- Protecting your children
- Securing your future
- Moving forward with clarity
And if you approach it properly from the start, you avoid the mess later.
- Divorce Filing: You can file for divorce without mediation.
- Court Disputes: You must attend a MIAM before a court will hear applications regarding finances or children.
- Exemptions: MIAMs are not required in cases of domestic abuse, child protection concerns, or urgent matters.
- Purpose: Mediation helps negotiate financial settlements and child arrangements outside of court.
If you cannot agree, a family mediator can help you avoid costly court hearings.