If you’re searching for the divorce process in the UK, this guide explains how divorce works in England and Wales.

That matters because divorce law is not exactly the same across the whole of the UK. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules and procedures, so if you live there, the process will be different.

Most people still search for “divorce process UK” when they want to understand how divorce works, which is why we use that phrase. But this guide is specifically about getting divorced in England and Wales.

If you’re thinking about getting divorced, it helps to understand the process before you start.

Most people want to know the same things:

• How do I start a divorce?
• How long does divorce take?
• Will I have to go to court?
• How much will it cost?
• What happens if my spouse ignores the papers?

The good news is that divorce in England and Wales is now much simpler than it used to be. Since the introduction of no-fault divorce, you no longer have to blame your spouse or prove adultery, unreasonable behaviour or separation. You simply confirm that the marriage has irretrievably broken down.

The bad news is that divorce is not instant. Even when everything is agreed, every divorce must go through the same legal process.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the divorce process in England and Wales, how long each stage takes, what can delay things, and how to keep the process as straightforward and affordable as possible.

Does this guide cover the whole UK?

This guide covers the divorce process in England and Wales.

Divorce law is different in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The rules, terminology, timescales and court process are not exactly the same.

However, many people still search for “divorce process UK” when they are looking for information about divorce in England and Wales. So we use the phrase people actually search for, while being clear about the law this guide covers.

If you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland, you should check the divorce process that applies there.

Divorce process UK: the short answer

The divorce process in England and Wales has three main legal stages:

• Divorce application
• Conditional Order
• Final Order

You cannot get divorced faster than just over 7 months because every divorce has to go through the same legal process.

That includes:

• The court processing and issuing the divorce application
• The 20-week reflection period
• The Conditional Order stage
• The 6 weeks and 1 day wait before the Final Order
• The final approval of the divorce

The Final Order is the document that legally ends your marriage.

But this is important: the Final Order does not automatically end financial claims between you and your ex-spouse.

If you want financial protection, you also need a court-approved financial order. This could be a Clean Break Order, Consent Order or Pension Sharing Order, depending on your circumstances.

The divorce process in England and Wales

The divorce process in England and Wales is now based on no-fault divorce.

This means you no longer have to blame your spouse or prove they did something wrong. You do not need to use adultery, unreasonable behaviour, desertion or separation as the reason for divorce.

Instead, the application confirms that the marriage has irretrievably broken down.

This has made the process less confrontational for many couples. It also means your spouse cannot defend the divorce just because they do not want the marriage to end.

They can still delay the process if they ignore the papers or refuse to cooperate, but they cannot stop the divorce simply because they do not agree with it.

How long does the divorce process take in the UK?

The fastest possible divorce in England and Wales takes just over 7 months.

That timeline is made up of:

• 2 to 3 weeks for the court to process and issue the divorce application
• 20-week reflection period
• 4 to 6 weeks for the court to process and grant the Conditional Order
• 6 weeks and 1 day before you can apply for the Final Order
• Around 24 hours for the Final Order to be granted

So even if both people agree, complete everything quickly and there are no problems with the paperwork, divorce is not instant.

Every divorce has to go through the same legal stages. What you can control is whether the process is handled properly, whether the paperwork is correct, and whether avoidable delays are kept to a minimum.

Divorce process timeline

Here is the divorce process in simple terms:

• Divorce application submitted
• Court processes and issues the application
• 20-week reflection period begins
• Conditional Order application is made
• Court processes and grants the Conditional Order
• You wait 6 weeks and 1 day
• Final Order is applied for
• Final Order is granted
• Marriage is legally ended

The part many people miss is the financial side. Divorce ends the marriage, but a financial order protects your money, property, pensions and future financial position.

Step 1: Check you can get divorced

Before you apply for divorce, you need to make sure you are eligible.

You can get divorced in England and Wales if:

• You have been married for at least one year
• Your marriage is legally recognised
• Your marriage has irretrievably broken down
• You or your spouse have a sufficient connection to England or Wales
• You have your original marriage certificate or a certified copy

If you do not have your marriage certificate, you will need to get a certified copy before the divorce application can be completed. We explain the options in our guide on what to do if you have lost your marriage certificate.

If your marriage certificate is not in English, you may also need a certified translation.

If you have been married for less than one year, you cannot apply for divorce yet. You may still be able to separate and make practical arrangements, but the divorce application itself has to wait until you have been married for at least 12 months.

Step 2: Start the divorce application

The divorce process starts with a divorce application.

This used to be called a divorce petition, which is why some people still use that phrase. Under the current process, it is normally called a divorce application.

If you want a more detailed breakdown of this stage, read our guide on how to apply for divorce online.

You can apply as either:

• A sole applicant, where one person starts the divorce
• Joint applicants, where both spouses apply together

A joint application can work well when both people are fully on board and communication is good.

A sole application is often better where one person is driving the process, where communication is difficult, or where you are not sure your spouse will cooperate properly.

Since no-fault divorce was introduced, you do not have to give a reason blaming your spouse. You simply confirm that the marriage has irretrievably broken down.

Step 3: The court issues the divorce application

Once the application has been submitted, the court checks it and then issues the divorce application.

If it is a sole application, your spouse is sent the divorce application and asked to acknowledge that they have received it.

If it is a joint application, both spouses are involved from the start.

This stage can be delayed if:

• The marriage certificate is missing
• Names do not match the marriage certificate
• The address details are wrong
• The court has a backlog
• The application has been completed incorrectly

This is one of the reasons many people use a managed online divorce service. Small mistakes can cause frustrating delays.

Step 4: Your spouse responds

If you apply as a sole applicant, your spouse is asked to acknowledge that they have received the divorce application.

If you are the respondent and want help with this stage, read our guide on how to complete an acknowledgement of service form for divorce.

If they respond, the divorce can continue through the normal process.

If they do not respond, the divorce stalls. It cannot move to the next stage until they acknowledge the application, or you take further steps to prove they know about the divorce.

This could mean using a court bailiff or process server to serve the papers personally. In some cases, you may be able to apply for deemed service if there is evidence your spouse has received the divorce application but has chosen not to respond.

The important point is this: your spouse cannot stop the divorce just because they do not want it, but ignoring the papers can delay the process until the service issue is dealt with properly.

Step 5: Wait for the 20-week reflection period

After the divorce application has been issued by the court, there is a mandatory 20-week waiting period before you can apply for the Conditional Order.

This is sometimes called the reflection period or cooling-off period.

For some couples, this time allows them to think carefully before the divorce moves forward. For others, the decision has already been made and the 20 weeks feels frustrating.

But the time does not have to be wasted.

You can use this period to:

• Agree how assets will be divided
• Discuss pensions
• Deal with debts
• Agree what happens to the family home
• Sort out child arrangements
• Prepare a financial order
• Get documents ready so there are fewer delays later

This is where many people make a mistake. They focus only on the divorce itself and leave the finances until later.

That can cause problems because the divorce and the financial settlement are not the same thing.

Step 6: Apply for the Conditional Order

Once the 20-week period has passed, you can apply for the Conditional Order.

The Conditional Order used to be called the Decree Nisi.

It does not end the marriage. It simply confirms that the court sees no legal reason why the divorce can proceed.

Once the Conditional Order is granted, you are one step away from the divorce being finalised.

This stage is also important if you are dealing with finances, because a financial order cannot usually be approved by the court until the Conditional Order has been made.

Step 7: Deal with your financial agreement

This is the stage people often misunderstand.

Getting divorced does not automatically sort out your money, property, pensions or debts.

The Final Order ends the marriage, but it does not automatically dismiss financial claims between you and your ex-spouse.

That means one person may still be able to make a financial claim in the future unless there is a court-approved financial order in place.

A financial order can deal with things like:

• The family home
• Savings
• Debts
• Pensions
• Maintenance
• Business interests
• Future financial claims

If you have no assets and no ongoing financial ties, you may need a Clean Break Order.

If you have assets, savings, property, debts or pensions to divide, you may need a Consent Order.

If pensions are being shared, you will need a Pension Sharing Order.

The key point is simple: if you want financial certainty after divorce, you need the financial agreement made legally binding by the court.

Step 8: Apply for the Final Order

After the Conditional Order has been granted, you must wait 6 weeks and 1 day before applying for the Final Order.

The Final Order used to be called the Decree Absolute.

Once the Final Order is granted, the marriage is legally ended.

You are then officially divorced.

However, you should be careful about applying for the Final Order before your finances are properly dealt with, especially if pensions, property or other assets are involved.

In many cases, it is sensible to make sure your financial agreement is either approved or well underway before finalising the divorce.

What can delay the divorce process?

Even though the divorce process is now more straightforward, delays can still happen.

Common causes of delay include:

• Your spouse does not respond
• You do not know your spouse’s current address
• The divorce application contains mistakes
• The marriage certificate is missing
• The court has a backlog
• You are waiting for pension information
• You have not agreed the financial settlement
• There are disputes over child arrangements
• One person keeps changing their mind

The biggest avoidable delay is usually incorrect paperwork.

The second biggest delay is failing to deal with the financial side early enough.

What if my spouse will not respond to the divorce?

If your spouse does not respond, the divorce stalls until the service issue is dealt with.

The court needs to know that your spouse has received the divorce application or is aware of the divorce. If they ignore the papers, you may need to arrange personal service through a court bailiff or process server.

If there is evidence that your spouse knows about the divorce but has chosen not to respond, you may be able to apply for deemed service. This asks the court to accept that your spouse has received or seen the application, even though they have not acknowledged it.

In some cases, you may need to ask the court for permission to serve the papers in another way.

This takes longer and costs more, but it does not mean your spouse can stop the divorce. It means the correct next steps have to be taken before the divorce can continue.

We explain the next steps in more detail in our guide on what to do if your spouse does not respond to divorce papers.

What if I do not know where my spouse lives?

If you do not know where your spouse lives, you may still be able to get divorced.

The court will expect you to take reasonable steps to try to find them. This may include using a tracing service.

If your spouse is found, the divorce papers can be sent to their address.

If they cannot be found, there may be other court applications available depending on the circumstances, but this is more complex and will take longer.

The important thing is not to assume you are stuck just because you do not have an address.

If you do not know where your spouse is, read our guide on what to do when you want a divorce but do not know where your spouse lives.

How much does divorce cost in the UK?

The court fee to apply for a divorce in England and Wales is currently £612.

This is paid to the court, not to Easy Online Divorce. Court fees can change, so you can check the current family court fees on GOV.UK.

If you are on a low income or receive certain benefits, you may be able to apply for Help with Fees, which can reduce or remove the court fee.

If you use Easy Online Divorce, our fully managed divorce service is £299 plus the court fee, if applicable.

This means the main cost is:

• £299 for our managed divorce service
• £612 court fee, unless you qualify for Help with Fees

If you also need a financial order, there is a separate court fee for the financial order and a separate service fee depending on the type of order you need.

What financial order costs should I know about?

If you are also dealing with finances, the court fee for a consent order is currently £60.

This is separate from the divorce court fee.

At Easy Online Divorce, we offer fixed-fee financial order services, including:

• Clean Break Order
• Consent Order
• Pension Sharing Order
• High Net Worth Consent Order

The right order depends on your circumstances.

If there are no assets and no ongoing financial ties, a Clean Break Order may be suitable.

If there are assets, property, debts, savings or pensions, a Consent Order is usually more appropriate.

If pensions are being divided, you will need a Pension Sharing Order.

Why solicitor costs can become expensive

A straightforward divorce does not need to cost thousands of pounds.

The costs usually rise when people use solicitors to negotiate every issue, especially where there are disagreements about money, property, pensions or children.

Traditional solicitor fees can quickly become expensive because you are usually paying by the hour. Letters, phone calls, negotiations and delays can all add to the final bill.

That does not mean solicitors are never needed.

If your case is contested, complex, or your spouse refuses to provide financial information, then a solicitor may be the right route.

But if you are both in agreement, or you are working towards agreement, there is often a much more affordable way to deal with the divorce and financial order.

How can I reduce divorce costs?

There are three main ways to reduce the cost of divorce:

• Check whether you qualify for Help with Fees
• Avoid unnecessary solicitor involvement where the divorce is straightforward
• Use a fixed-fee online divorce service if your case is suitable

Help with Fees can reduce or remove the £612 court fee if you are on a low income, have little in savings, or receive certain benefits.

A fixed-fee service can also help you avoid open-ended hourly solicitor bills.

The key is choosing the right level of support for your situation. If everything is agreed, you may not need a traditional solicitor-led process. If nothing is agreed and your spouse will not engage, you may need a different route.

Can you speed up the divorce process?

You cannot get divorced faster than just over 7 months in England and Wales.

Every divorce has to go through the same legal process, including the 20-week reflection period and the wait before the Final Order.

You cannot skip the legal waiting periods, but you can still take steps to make your divorce as quick as possible.

A quick divorce is not about skipping the law. It is about making sure the application is correct, the documents are ready, your spouse responds properly, and the financial side is dealt with at the right time.

The best ways to keep the divorce moving are:

• Use the correct details from the marriage certificate
• Make sure addresses are accurate
• Respond to court emails quickly
• Deal with the financial agreement during the 20-week period
• Get pension information early if pensions are being divided
• Use a managed service if you are unsure about the paperwork

The legal timescale is fixed, but mistakes and poor preparation can still make the process much longer than it needs to be.

Do you have to go to court for a divorce?

In most straightforward divorces, you do not have to attend court.

The process is normally dealt with online or through paperwork.

You are much more likely to need court involvement if there is a contested financial dispute, a serious disagreement over children, or your spouse refuses to cooperate.

For most couples who are in agreement, the divorce process can be completed without either person attending court.

Is online divorce safe?

Online divorce can be a safe and sensible option when you choose the right provider.

The risk is not the fact that the service is online. The risk is using a service that gives poor information, does not explain the financial side properly, or leaves you thinking the divorce alone protects you financially.

A good online divorce service should make the process easier, not leave you unsupported.

At Easy Online Divorce, your case is handled by a real UK-based team. You are assigned a dedicated case manager, and the process is managed for you from start to finish.

Divorce process summary

The fastest possible divorce in England and Wales takes just over 7 months.

The process is:

• Divorce application
• Conditional Order
• Final Order

The most important thing to remember is that divorce and finances are separate.

The Final Order ends your marriage.

A financial order protects you financially.

If you want a clean break and certainty for the future, do not ignore the financial side of divorce.

How Easy Online Divorce can help

Easy Online Divorce helps people get divorced without unnecessary solicitor costs.

Our managed online divorce service is £299 plus the court fee, if applicable.

We can help with:

• Online divorce applications
• Sole and joint divorce applications
• Spouses who will not respond
• Cases where you do not know your spouse’s address
• Clean Break Orders
• Consent Orders
• Pension Sharing Orders
• High Net Worth Consent Orders

We are SRA regulated, our work is completed by an expert UK-based team, and we have helped over 5,000 couples complete their divorce in a simpler and more affordable way.

We also have over 800 five-star reviews on Trustpilot, giving people reassurance that online does not have to mean unsupported.

If you want help with your divorce, you can start your online divorce today or book a free consultation with a member of our team.

UK divorce process FAQs

How long does divorce take in the UK?

The fastest possible divorce in England and Wales takes just over 7 months.

This includes the court processing and issuing the divorce application, the 20-week reflection period, the Conditional Order stage, the 6 weeks and 1 day wait before the Final Order, and the final approval of the divorce.

It can take longer if your spouse does not respond, the paperwork contains mistakes, the court is delayed, or the financial agreement is not dealt with properly.

How long do you have to be married before you can get divorced?

You need to have been married for at least one year before you can apply for divorce in England and Wales.

Is divorce in England different from the rest of the UK?

Yes. England and Wales have their own divorce process. Scotland and Northern Ireland have different rules and procedures.

This guide is about divorce in England and Wales.

Do I need to give a reason for divorce?

You do not need to blame your spouse.

Under no-fault divorce, you only need to confirm that the marriage has irretrievably broken down.

Can my spouse stop the divorce?

No, your spouse cannot stop the divorce just because they do not want it.

Divorce can only be disputed in very limited circumstances, such as jurisdiction, validity of the marriage, or whether the marriage has already legally ended.

They can make the process slower if they refuse to respond, but they cannot block it simply because they disagree.

Can I get divorced online?

Yes. Most divorce applications in England and Wales can now be completed online.

If your case is straightforward and you are both in agreement, online divorce can be one of the simplest and most affordable ways to deal with the process.

Do I have to speak to my ex during the divorce?

No, you are not legally required to speak to your ex during the divorce process.

However, if communication is safe and possible, it can make things easier, especially when dealing with finances or child arrangements.

What happens if my ex ignores the divorce papers?

If your ex ignores the divorce papers, the divorce stalls until the service issue is dealt with.

You may need to arrange personal service through a court bailiff or process server. If there is evidence your spouse knows about the divorce but has chosen not to respond, you may be able to apply for deemed service.

Your spouse cannot stop the divorce just by ignoring the papers, but the correct next steps need to be taken before the divorce can continue.

What if I do not know where my spouse lives?

You may still be able to get divorced, but extra steps are needed.

The court will expect you to try to find your spouse first. This may involve using a tracing service. If they are found, the divorce papers can be served at their address. If they cannot be found, there may be other court applications available, but the process is more complex.

Will my spouse get 50% of everything?

Not automatically.

The court often starts by looking at equality, but the final outcome depends on fairness and the circumstances of the case. This can include income, housing needs, children, pensions, debts, earning capacity and the length of the marriage.

If you have reached an agreement, the court will still check whether the financial order appears fair before approving it.

Does divorce automatically split pensions?

No.

Pensions are not automatically divided just because you get divorced.

If pensions are being shared, this needs to be dealt with through a Pension Sharing Order. Without a proper court order, pension arrangements can be missed or left unresolved.

Do I need a financial order if we have agreed everything?

Yes, if you want the agreement to be legally binding.

An informal agreement between you and your ex is not enough to dismiss future financial claims. To make the agreement legally binding, you need a financial order approved by the court.

Does the Final Order end financial claims?

No, not by itself.

The Final Order ends the marriage. It does not automatically end financial claims.

To dismiss financial claims and create a clean break, you need a court-approved financial order.

How much does Easy Online Divorce charge?

Our fully managed divorce service is £299 plus the £612 court fee, if applicable.

If you need financial protection as well, we also offer fixed-fee Clean Break Orders, Consent Orders, Pension Sharing Orders and High Net Worth Consent Orders.

What is the cheapest way to get divorced?

The cheapest way to get divorced is usually to use the government online divorce service yourself and only pay the court fee, if you are confident doing everything without support.

However, cheapest is not always best.

If you make mistakes, do not understand the process, or fail to deal with your financial claims properly, it can cost more later.

For many people, a fixed-fee managed online divorce service is a sensible middle ground. It keeps costs low while giving you support through the process.