In 2017, national statistics show that approximately 102,000 divorces happened in England Wales. Where the law in this country is relatively straightforward, the process can be complicated when there are various factors involved especially children, shared assets and international aspects.
Our firm specialises in not only simple divorce proceedings but also complex divorce proceedings that have involved separation, financial settlements, the involvement of children as well as the international aspects involved.
We have an experienced family law consultant, Simon Cooper, who has over 20 years’ experience in this area of work. Simon is assisted with fee earners from our firm on his ongoing work with us.
As well as representing clients in obtaining a divorce, we also assist in ancillary aspects such as financial settlement/distribution of family assets, maintenance for spouse and children, care arrangement orders concerning children.
In a snapshot, a divorce can be filed based on the following five grounds:
This is not a ground widely used these days.
To make divorce less acrimonious, we aim to keep extreme abuse out of the divorce petition unless impossible to ignore it.
Our firm can assist you whether you are the one filing the divorce proceedings or responding to a divorce petition. All court proceedings are subject to time scales which are important to adhere to. Our aim in all family proceedings is to resolve the matters by consensus if possible and encourage our clients to mediate and/or engage in negotiations amongst themselves to save themselves from substantial court costs.
Divorce proceedings have many steps and, on each level, our family law team will endeavour to support you in ensuring that the best outcome is reached.
The first step is for the application to be made to the court. Our family team prepare the grounds of divorce.
If you are the responding party, once the application is made by your partner, the court will send you a questionnaire. This is when we are engaged, and we provide clients with advice on their rights within the marriage about finances and children.
Following this, if the court is content that the grounds on which the divorce is applied for are substantive, then a “Decree Nisi” is applied for. At this stage, further applications and/or negotiations are carried out concerning children and finances if applicable.
If the divorce is contested, which is rare, there will be ongoing hearings that will take place. Our lawyers work closely with counsel on such matters.
The last step within the divorce proceedings is to apply for a “Decree Absolute” which is a document sealed by the court which finalises the divorce. This can be implemented by either the party who had filed for the separation or by the responding party six weeks and one day from the issuing of the Decree Nisi.
However, if finances still need to be resolved, the Decree Absolute is not applied for until final agreement or order on this area is made.
Our experienced family law consultant will be able to assist you, whether from the beginning of your matter or at any point in the process of the proceedings.
If you are overseas and your divorce is taking place under the English law, we can assist you via telephone and video conferences, emails and other forms of technology.
Costs:
We can provide fixed prices for uncontested divorce proceedings dependent on the merits of each case. In all cases, there is a court fee for the petitioner of £550. We try to deal with this matter collaboratively by agreeing on the petition with the other party and splitting the court fee equally.
Contacting our Firm:
Please contact our firm, Simon Cooper (consultant) and Munira Javed Abib (trainee solicitor) for any enquiries by calling us on 020 8446 6223 or emailing enquiries@sr-law.co.uk.
We have offices in Central London (at 32 Bloomsbury Street, WC1), North London (Finchley N3- close to the North Circular Road), and in Hatfield, Herts, AL9 opposite the mainline station.