February 11, 2026
Valentine’s Day is a time to celebrate love, but for some couples, it is also a reminder that relationships can change. If you are considering separation or divorce, understanding the process and your legal options can help provide clarity and support during this emotional time.
How long does Divorce process take?
It generally takes between seven and 8 months, but that is just the divorce process itself, which legally ends the marriage. If there are finances or arrangements for children to sort out, it may take longer.
Once you start the process, you cannot apply for your Conditional Order (previously the Decree Nisi), which is the next stage of a divorce, until 20 weeks after starting. You then cannot apply for your final divorce order until six weeks and one day after the Conditional Order.
If you also have financial issues, it can be up to nine months or so before matters are concluded and enabling you to move forward.
Can I get divorced without my partners agreement?
If you send your divorce petition, the court sends the divorce petition to your partner. They have a time limit, usually 14 days, to respond.
If they do not respond, you may have to ask the court to send the paperwork to them again using a Process Server to hand them the papers, or to ask the court to “deem” that they have received the papers (they have had them but have not completed the next formal steps).
What happens with property, the family home and shared finances?
There is no formula that can be applied when considering how assets should be divided and each case is individual.
The guideline starting point is the principle of equality (i.e. 50/50 division of matrimonial assets). However, this is not a hard and fast rule which will be applied regardless of circumstances – the needs of each party and the children must be taken in to account before a fair outcome can be reached.
Matrimonial assets are those such as a family home that you acquired during the marriage, savings and pensions and the like.
Sometimes there are assets that may not be considered as joint assets. For example, an inheritance received later in the marriage may be treated separately. That does not mean it is not included within the divorce, but it does mean it might be treated differently from other assets that within the marriage.
Assets might be considered as being put into a matrimonial pot and which must be divided fairly so that each party, and the children of the family, can have as stable and certain a future as possible.
How much does a divorce cost?
The court fee is £612. You pay that whether or not you have somebody acting for you.
If you are on benefits or a very low income, you may be able to receive help with this fee. An application for fee remission must be made to the court for this.
If you want us to act for you, we charge a fixed fee for the divorce of £1000 including the court fee, our costs and VAT.
Are there alternatives to divorce? And when do they apply?
Yes, there are alternatives to divorce. Some people may not be ready for a divorce. I believe that people are ready to divorce in their own time, and it has to be when they are ready to do it, not when others think they should.
There are alternatives to resolving financial arrangements without a divorce. People can separate prior to divorce, and our advice is always to make sure that any financial arrangements that are agreed are embodied in a written Separation Agreement. That way everybody knows what their obligations are and where they stand, and it gives certainty for that interim period before divorce proceedings are started.
At what point should somebody receive legal advice?
As soon as they realise they are serious about not being able to stay in the relationship. It is always a good idea to come along and see what the options are and talk through the situation.
We are very happy to see a client for some initial advice if this helps them to decide how to proceed, even if they do not wish to take any steps after that advice. They may decide they would rather try to make the marriage or relationship work.
If they reach the point where they think they cannot continue, then even if they do not want to take any immediate steps, the advice hopefully gives them enough information either to prepare so that when they are ready to proceed they know exactly what to do, or to go away, talk to their partner, return to see us, and then decide on next steps.
If you are considering separation or divorce and want guidance on the process, finances, or arrangements for children, our Ipswich and Hadleigh team of family law solicitors is here to help. You can contact us using our online contact form, give us a call at 01473 219282, or email mail@bates-wells.co.uk. Getting advice early can provide clarity and help you make informed decisions about the next steps.