The breakdown of a marriage or civil partnership can be a difficult and distressing time. Our experienced divorce and civil partnership solicitors, based in London, provide clear, practical, and supportive legal support to help make a difficult situation more bearable.
Expert divorce settlement and civil partnership dissolution solicitors
Whether you are part of a same-sex couple or a heterosexual couple, our family law team will guide you through the entire legal process with sensitivity and efficiency. Our goal is to protect your interests, financial resources, and help you reach the best possible outcome for you and your family.
Why choose our family law team?
Our divorce and civil partnership solicitors assist clients across London and beyond with:
- The divorce process
- Civil partnership dissolution
- Separation agreements
- Advice on children, property, and finances
- Validity of marriage applications
Civil partnerships were originally introduced for same-sex couples but are now also available to heterosexual couples. Civil partners generally have similar rights to married couples regarding tax, inheritance, and dissolution. It is worth noting that there are very few key differences between the two processes.
The divorce settlement and civil partnership dissolution process
Under current law, you no longer need to blame the other party. The process now begins with a simple statement confirming that the relationship has irretrievably broken down.
Our experienced solicitors can act on your behalf whether you are making a sole application or a joint application with your former partner.
How to apply
You can usually file for a divorce or civil partnership dissolution application online. You'll need a certified copy of your marriage or civil partnership certificate, and you'll need to pay the court fee, although help is available if you have a low-income.
The timeline
You must have been married or in a civil partnership for over a year. The process typically takes at least six months:
- Application: submitted to the court.
- Reflection period: a 20-week wait before the next step.
- Conditional order: acknowledges that the court sees no reason to prevent the divorce or dissolution.
- Final order: (or Final Dissolution Order). You can apply for this six weeks after the conditional order is granted.
In most cases, court hearings are not required. However, if circumstances are complex, you may need to attend at least one court hearing.
Financial settlements and children
A key part of the process is reaching a divorce or civil partnership financial settlement. Dissolving a marriage or civil partnership legally ends the marriage or partnership, but it does not automatically resolve financial matters. It is crucial to address your financial arrangements and fully and finally resolve financial settlement terms.
We provide tailored advice on:
- Financial settlement negotiations with your ex-partner.
- Securing a legally binding financial order, such as a clean break order or child maintenance payments.
- Protecting financial assets, including the family home, pensions, and savings.
- Parental responsibility and arrangements for children.
Even if you and your ex-partner agree the financial settlement terms, it is vital to make this legally binding legal to cover your financial needs for the foreseeable future.
Why choose Grant Saw Solicitors?
We're one of London's top divorce and civil partnership dissolution solicitors. We know how tough it is when a marriage or partnership breaks up, and we take a sensitive approach to help you move forward, while keeping costs down.
- Clear costs: your first consultation of up to one hour with our solicitors is a for fixed fee of £150 + VAT. After assessing your situation, we will provide a clear estimate of future costs.
- Expert support: we handle divorce, dissolution, and separation with care and professionalism.
- Efficient: we get things done online where possible to keep delays to a minimum.
Contact us today
If you need advice on splitting a civil partnership or getting a fair divorce settlement, get in touch with our divorce and civil partnership solicitors team. We'll help make sure your financial future and well-being are sorted.
Email family@grantsaw.co.uk or give us a call on 020 8858 6971 today. We're currently offering a free initial telephone consultation - just leave your details, and we'll call you back at a time that suits you.
