Resource hub · Factsheet
Comprehensive Divorce Process Factsheet
Family law · Factsheet
Divorce Process Overview
- Application File online or by post
- Acknowledgement Respond within 14 days
- Conditional Order Court confirms entitlement
- Final Order Legally ends marriage
- No fault divorce – no need to prove wrongdoing
- 20-week reflection period between application and conditional order
- 6-week waiting period between conditional and final order
- Joint or sole application possible
- Court fee: £628 (as of July 2026, fee waivers available)
Typical Timeline
Key Considerations
Children:
- Living arrangements
- Contact schedules
- Child maintenance
Finances:
- Division of assets and debts
- Pensions
- Spousal maintenance
Property:
- Family home
- Other properties
Legal & Emotional Support
Legal Support:
- Solicitors
- Mediators
- Legal aid (if eligible)
Emotional Support:
- Counseling
- Support groups
- Online forums
Helpful Resources
Government Resources:
- Gov.uk: www.gov.uk/divorce
- HM Courts & Tribunals Service: www.gov.uk/courts-tribunals/hm-courts-and-tribunals-service
Legal Support:
- Citizens Advice: www.citizensadvice.org.uk
- Resolution: www.resolution.org.uk
- Law Society: www.lawsociety.org.uk
Emotional Support:
- Relate: www.relate.org.uk
- Gingerbread (for single parents): www.gingerbread.org.uk
- Samaritans: www.samaritans.org
Reviewed
August 2026
Authority
Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 s.1 (as amended by the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020); fee per Form EX50 (gov.uk)
Source
Download this factsheet as a PDF
1-divorce-process-factsheet.pdf · 1 page
The PDF is retained as historical material: it shows a superseded fee (£593). The current divorce application fee is £628. Checked against gov.uk on 6 August 2026.
If a factsheet is not enough
A factsheet explains how a process works. It cannot tell you what to do in your own matter — that turns on facts only a person reading your papers can establish.
Get my free written assessment
Or go back to all 25 factsheets
Factsheets are free to every reader. If this one helped you, you can support Legal Lens.
Factsheets are general information only and do not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. You must obtain specific advice from a qualified professional before acting on any information here. See the terms of use.