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Divorce Solicitors in Fareham

Once you have made the decision to divorce or separate, you will naturally be concerned about what happens next, particularly if you have children involved in the relationship.  Our Family Solicitors in Fareham can help you understand your rights and those of your children in a friendly, professional and supportive environment.

We appreciate that no family is the same, and so your needs will not be the same as our other clients.  This is why we offer different solutions for you through our fixed fee packages and help you make informed decisions as to how you should be proceeding for the best interests of everyone involved.

What are the grounds for divorce?

Currently the law in the UK states that you must have been married to your spouse for at least one year before you can apply for divorce, using one of the following reasons to show there has been an irretrievable breakdown of the relationship:

  • Adultery
  • Unreasonable behaviour
  • Continuous separation of two years with both you and your spouse agreeing to divorce
  • Where you or your spouse don't agree, then separation needs to be five years
  • Desertion after two years

New legislation was passed in 2020 which provides for a so-called "no fault" divorce.  Likely to be introduced in 2021, this will allow you to apply for divorce based purely on irretrievable breakdown without citing one of the additional reasons above such as adultery or unreasonable behaviour.  

What happens next?

After making the decision to file for divorce, either you or your spouse would file against the other party.  We can either handle every step of the way or provide you with the relevant paperwork for you to manage matters yourself.  If there is no disagreement, you will be able to apply for the Decree Nisi, after which the Judge will approve the Decree Nisi if they see fit and after six weeks and one day you can apply for the Decree Absolute.

It is likely that there will be other factors that you will need to discuss and agree to, such as arrangements for any children or your finances.  If you are not able to agree these arrangements, Family Mediation may be an option for you.  If you do agree on your financial arrangements, for example what will happen with the proceeds of any property sales, pensions etc, then we can also assist with the drafting and finalising of your financial order.

You may also need to consider other implications on your life, for example, does your Will need to be updated or do you need to have one written?  Do you need financial advice if you are to receive a lump sum following the divorce?  Our Private Client and Financial Services can both assist in these matters with compassion and understanding while you adjust to your new life.  

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How we can help you and your family:

In addition to support you and your family through your divorce or separation, our Family Solicitors in Fareham can also advise on the following matters:

As well as the advice from our Family Solicitors, you may also find the following websites useful: 

To find out more about how our Family and Divorce Solicitors in Fareham can help you, contact the team today on 023 8071 7431 or email enquiries@warnergoodman.co.uk.