If you and your partner have decided to get a divorce, you’ll probably want to get things settled as quickly and painlessly as possible.
Unfortunately, getting a divorce can sometimes be complicated and the timescales for getting one can vary significantly.
How long it will take from filing for a divorce to receiving your decree absolute is dependent on several factors including:
How quickly you reach an agreement
If you and your partner reach a straightforward agreement, then this is called an uncontested divorce. Uncontested divorces are usually much quicker to settle than contested divorce.
If you cannot reach an agreement about the terms of your divorce, then you will be required to attend mediation followed by court if the dispute still cannot be resolved. This can cause the process to drag on and take much longer than an uncontested divorce.
Whether any children are involved
If you and your partner have children, then it may take longer to iron out all the terms of your divorce relating to custody and child maintenance payments.
How many assets are owned
The more assets that you and your partner own, the more complicated and time-consuming the process of dividing your assets is likely to be. Just some of the assets that will need to be considered include property, savings, pensions, and vehicles.
How busy the Court of Administration’s processing centre is
Even if you come to an agreement quickly and fill out and return all documentation promptly, if the Court of Administration’s processing centre is very busy and have a backlog of work, this can hold things up.
Average timescale for a divorce in the UK
Once an agreement has been reached and a divorce has been filed for, the average time to receive a decree absolute is around 12 months.
For further help or advice with divorce law or beginning divorce proceedings, give our team of family law solicitors here at Lund Bennett a call on 0161 927 3118.