Getting a divorce can be a big step therefore you need to appreciate what’s involved prior to starting the process. To do this you will need professional expert help and advice and our Leeds Family Solicitors are going to be glad to offer you everything you will need to decide if divorce is going to be the right solution. For now here’s some more background about what to expect when you are looking to get divorced.
Grounds For Divorce
Whilst the majority of people may assume that anyone that is married can obtain divorced, across England and Wales there are a number of requirements that will have to be met. For starters, you have to have been married for longer than 12 months, and then you must show that your relationship has failed for one of the following reasons:
- Desertion
- Unreasonable behaviour
- Separation for 2 years
- Separation for 5 years
- Adultery
Time-Scales
Just as each relationship is unique, so is every divorce. Sometimes it can be a fairly amicable situation, while in other situations there could be a lot of bitterness amongst the two individuals. The mindset of the husband and wife getting divorced will have a significant impact on how long the process is going to take. The parties who enter proceedings with an attitude of co-operation and open negotiation might reasonably expect the Decree Absolute to be awarded within a few months. Those that encounter problems which they are not able to agree on might have to wait several years for their divorce to become final.
Divorce Costs
In addition to the normal court fees the cost of your divorce case will vary according to the solicitor you choose to handle your case, the difficulty of your case and the amount of time it takes to resolve it. Not all divorce lawyers are the same and simply because one may perhaps cost less than another doesn’t mean they would be the better option. Deciding on a cheaper solicitor could mean that you are employing someone with less experience of handling your particular circumstances.
Alternatives To Divorce
Regardless of the motivation, Separation is an alternative to divorce, and where a husband and wife only need to be living apart to be regarded as ‘separated’. You can formalise this separation, rather than getting divorced, and even when this isn’t necessary, there could be a number of issues which need to be outlined in some kind of separation agreement.
If you are looking at getting a divorce or attempting to resolve a Family Law problem, our Family Law Solicitors Leeds office can offer you a choice of solutions and look to work within whatever budget you’ve got.
