No fault divorce female ripping apart a photograph
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An end to the blame game with 'no-fault' divorce

Wendy Campbell Wendy Campbell
2 min read

It is finally here, 6th April 2022, the date that many family lawyers have been waiting years for. From this date forward parties will no longer have to attribute blame to the other person in order to achieve a divorce.  No-fault divorce (after years of campaigning for it) has arrived.

Grounds for 'no-fault' divorce

The grounds for divorce remains the same, irretrievable breakdown of the marriage but the five facts, which were adultery, unreasonable behaviour, desertion, 2 years separation with consent and 5 years separation, have gone. If you are of the view that your marriage or civil partnership has irretrievably broken down this is now all you need to present your application for a divorce to the court. This can be done either as an individual or jointly with your partner.

Changes to divorce law

Divorce law terminology

The “divorce petition” is replaced by the "making of an application to the court for a divorce".

Instead of a “Decree Nisi” you will be given a "Conditional Order". 

The “Decree Absolute” is now called a "Final Order".

Divorce timeline

The period from the date of the application for a divorce through to the making of the Conditional Order will take a minimum of 20 weeks. There is still the minimum period of 6 weeks between the Conditional Order and the Final Order to allow for “cooling-off”, a period of reflection. It also allows time for other matters such as the children arrangements and financial matters to progress, hopefully amicably.

Divorce process

Divorce proceedings can no longer be contested by the other person, which again aids to reduce stress particularly in cases of domestic abuse.

As there is now an end to the blame game, it is hoped that parties are able to resolve children and financial matters without the hostility that has existed from the filing of adultery and unreasonable behaviour petitions.

So, whilst divorce and the ending of civil partnerships is a very difficult time for all concerned it is now hoped that the divorce process will be less harmful to relationships and children.

No-fault divorce does not affect financial commitments to each other and it is important that legal advice is obtained when seeking to resolve the finances.

Contact our Leeds based Family and Divorce Solicitors on 0113 320 5000, or email today via @email.

Client feedback

Outstanding Legal Support from Start to Finish:From my initial call to the resolution of my case, the firm and its staff demonstrated exceptional professionalism and care. I would particularly like to commend Mrs Harriet Reid, a family solicitor whose dedication and expertise were instrumental in achieving a successful outcome.Despite having less than ten days to prepare, Mrs Reid devoted considerable time and attention to my case. Her legal knowledge, strategic insight, and empathetic approach were of the highest calibre. She displayed remarkable skill in preparing the case for my counsel, ensuring every detail was meticulously addressed.If I ever require legal representation again, I know exactly where to turn.
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Richard J
Hannah at Winston helped me with filing the financial issues of my divorce to the court. She liaised with my ex husband as I was at a point I could no longer speak to him. I am very grateful to Winston’s and especially Hannah.
Anonymous
Was very satisfied with all the procedure of getting divorced was kept informed always through and explained all the legality in simple terms
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Wendy Campbell who delt with my devorce was polite and understanding,very pefessional.I could not have ask for a better person to help me through the bad times. Always keeping me up to date with every thing and no problem she could not handle.
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My Divorce case was handled efficiently and with understanding by Teresa and Judith who guided me all the way through it with sympathy for the circumstances and I wouldn't hestitate to recommend them, infact I have already done so!
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Review for Wendy – Family Law Services at Winston’s Solicitors, LeedsI recently had the pleasure of working with Wendy from Winston’s Solicitors in Leeds on a family law matter, and I cannot recommend her highly enough. From our first consultation, Wendy was incredibly professional, empathetic, and thorough in her approach. She took the time to fully understand my situation, providing clear and concise advice at every step of the process.Throughout the entire case, Wendy was always available to answer any questions I had, and she made sure I felt supported and informed. Her knowledge of family law is exceptional, and I felt confident in her ability to handle my case. She was transparent about all costs, keeping me informed of any developments along the way.What truly stood out to me was her attention to detail and her ability to navigate what was a very emotionally charged situation with sensitivity and care. Wendy was not only a skilled professional but also genuinely understanding of the emotional impact of my case, which made a huge difference during a stressful time.Thanks to Wendy’s hard work and dedication, I was able to reach a favorable outcome, and I am incredibly grateful for her support. If you are looking for a compassionate and experienced family law solicitor, I would wholeheartedly recommend Wendy at Winston’s Solicitors.
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