How long does a divorce take in England and Wales?

Question

My husband and I have agreed to divorce and there is no dispute between us. I keep seeing very different timescales online. Roughly how long should a straightforward no-fault divorce actually take from start to finish?

Luke Ramirez · Accepted Answer

Since the no-fault divorce rules came in for England and Wales in April 2022, there is a built-in minimum of about 26 weeks. After you apply there is a 20-week reflection period before you can apply for the conditional order, and then a further 6-week wait before you can apply for the final order. So even a fully agreed divorce cannot legally complete in less than roughly six months. In practice a straightforward case where both people cooperate usually takes around six to eight months end to end. The part that most often adds time is not the divorce itself but sorting out the finances. It is usually sensible to resolve the money side and obtain a financial consent order before applying for the final order, so you do not accidentally lose valuable financial protections. This is general information rather than advice on your specific situation.

Mia Taylor · Answer

A useful way to think about it is that the 26-week minimum is the floor, not the typical time. What stretches it out is almost always the financial settlement and, where relevant, arrangements for children. If you and your ex agree on the finances, a lawyer can draft a consent order for the court to approve, which is far quicker and cheaper than a contested case. If you do not agree, and it goes through negotiation, mediation or court, it can run to a year or more. My practical suggestion is to keep the divorce application and the financial order on parallel tracks and take advice early, because agreeing the money before the final order protects claims that can otherwise be lost.

How long does a divorce take in England and Wales?

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