Finding and using a divorce solicitor

Going to a divorce solicitor
For most men and women a visit to  a divorce solicitor is the first stage in getting a divorce. It will not be the cheapest option available but divorce can be an intimidating prospect and a good solicitor can help ease the way and give you the best start to your life after divorce.

Choosing a divorce solicitor can be tricky. We can put you in touch with a Family Law expert near you.  A recommendation from a recently divorced friend can be a good way to choose but remember having good chemistry with your solicitor is very important.  Your friend's choice may not be right for you.

The Law Society gives good advice about how to handle your first meeting and the types of question you might find it helpful to ask. You can download their guide on getting a divorce which is available in several languages.

Cost of a divorce
A divorce, using a solicitor, without including wrangling over any financial settlement or other matters should, at a rough estimate, cost in the region of £600, this does not include VAT or court fees. You are very unlikely to get even the simplest divorce for less than this.  Most divorces will cost a lot more.  Solicitors charge on an hourly basis, so the more you argue and dispute with each other the more you will both end up paying.

Getting the right divorce lawyer for the task and for you

The knowledge and experience of your lawyer can make all the difference between a fair, equitable and reasonable divorce and you being shafted financially, thrust into bleak penury and condemned to a difficult life after divorce .

The two important outcomes of divorce
There are really only two outcomes from divorce - the arrangements for the children and the agreement about splitting the family assets, including pensions and any future payments from one ex spouse to another.  Good lawyers can handle the difficult task of agreeing the arrangements for the children but if the financial aspect of the divorce is complicated then you should really consult with an Independent Financial Advisor (IFA) with specific divorce finance expertise to advise you.

Important choices when deciding on your lawyer 
An often overlooked aspect of choosing a lawyer to represent you is the nature and style of the lawyer representing the person you once loved (or maybe still do).  If you engage a conciliatory and reasonable lawyer to look after your best interests and your husband/wife engages a graduate of the Genghis Khan School of Law then you have a big problem.  If you are up against one of them then they will try to emulate their namesake and conquer everything in sight.  Genghis set a fine example by building a Mongol empire in the 13th century stretching from the river Danube to the Sea of Japan. 

It might be advisable to fight fire with fire and get yourself an experienced warrior who sees the divorce process as a pitched battle in which no prisoners are taken and the only objective is to maximise the spoils of war (divorce).  If you don't you will probably suffer and be disadvantaged by the outcome of the divorce settlement.  This will be reflected in the outcomes for your children and the financial agreement you reach.  It is very hard for the kind and reasonable to stand up to vicious and unreasonable. 

If you decide to go to war do it properly
If you want to run your divorce this way, seek out a graduate with a First Class degree from the Genghis Khan School of Law with lots of battle experience.  Give him or her (for the school has many women graduates) carte blanche and the OK to use the nuclear option (OK so Genghis did not have nuclear weapons but if he had he would have ...

How to get a divorce

Wondering how to get a divorce? Some of the boring but necessary things about getting a divorce. Finding and choosing a divorce solicitor to represent you is vital if you are to get the best deal out of the divorce process.

If you feel you would like a free, no obligation consultation with an local expert Divorce solicitor, please follow this link and complete the form provided. We will help find the right advice for you.

How to get a divorce

As long as the respondent is resident in the UK they have seven days in which to reply. At this point they will, if they have not already done so, need to find a divorce solicitor.

The Acknowlegement of Service
Once the Acknowledgement Of Service is returned to the court a copy will be sent to the petitioner or to their solicitor. If the respondent has stated that they will not be defending the divorce – which is normally the case – then the petitioner has to file an affidavit (a written statement containing evidence given on oath or affirmation) to confirm that the details in the petition are correct and that the signature in the Acknowledgement Of Service and the Statement Of Arrangements, if applicable, is that of the petitioner. This affidavit is then returned to the court with the request that it consider the evidence presented, with a view to continuing the divorce process.

The decree nisi
A District Judge, on receipt of the affidavit and the request to proceed, will then consider what is before him in the way of evidence. As long as the judge decides that all is in order, a certificate will be granted to that effect and a copy sent to the petitioner giving a date for the pronouncement of the decree nisi – this does not end the marriage and is provisional only. It is neither expected, nor is usual, for either party to attend the court for this as it is really only a formality.

The decree absolute
Once the decree nisi has been pronounced the petitioner must wait a further six weeks for the divorce to be made absolute...