My wife and I want to get divorced. Can we apply for a “quickie” divorce?
There is no such thing as a “quickie” divorce. The process is the same for everyone in England and Wales, regardless of their financial background or arrangements that are made for the children.
If a couple are splitting up, their divorce will usually take between 3-6 months to complete. Each case is different, but there is no special “quickie” procedure to make things go faster. In most cases, there is a delay while people agree what should happen with the finances, the house, and any savings and bank accounts.
But I’ve heard about celebrities getting quickie divorces?
This is inaccurate reporting. Whenever a celebrity couple’s marriage breaks up, the media usually uses the term “quickie divorce” to refer to attendance at court. In the main divorce proceedings, if matters are agreed, no-one needs to attend court. This is the “five minute hearing” that’s often mentioned – it refers to pronouncement of decree nisi, which is often not controversial.
What about companies on the Internet who say they can sort out the divorce in a couple of days?
There are companies who offer a “quick divorce” service. This is rather misleading. These “divorces” may be fully recognised in the UK, but they are unlikely to deal with any financial disputes or arrangements for the children, which are often the aspects of divorce which people need assistance with.
It’s important to remember that the process of actually getting divorced in the UK is quite mechanical and straightforward – if the costs are agreed between you, then you each only need to fill in a couple of forms, and there’s no need for either of you to ever attend court. It’s when arrangements regarding children or money have not been agreed that a divorce can take longer. Arguments over these things can add a considerable amount of time to a case, but it is vital to make sure these matters are agreed so that you protect your financial position and have a clear structure of contact and arrangements for the children.
We can explain all this in more detail – if you would like some more information about getting divorced, then please give us a call on (029) 2034 2233, or alternatively e-mail us at enquiries@wendyhopkins.co.uk, and we will do our best to help you.
Published 24/02/12