In this article, Family Solicitor Louisa Knight discusses DIY divorce and how it will work with the new divorce law going forward.
Louisa looks at whether a DIY divorce is easier, discussing the pros and cons, and outlines the divorce process in full.
What is no-fault divorce and how does it work?
No-fault divorce is a divorce which doesn’t require either party involved to blame the other for the breakdown of the relationship.
This differs from the current ‘fault-based’ divorce with petitions based on this current system no longer being able to be issued after March 31st 2022 (except for urgent applications).
No-fault divorce comes into force on 6th April 2022.
Find out exactly how no-fault divorce works here.
Can I do a no-fault divorce myself?
In short, yes. Under the new law, you will still be able to do a divorce yourself online through the gov.uk website.
Due to the introduction of no-fault divorce and change in divorce law, we expect more and more couples to look at DIY/online divorces going forward.
However, do it yourself divorce does have its drawbacks and won’t be suitable in all circumstances. Later in this article, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of DIY no-fault divorce.
Is a no-fault divorce easier to do myself?
The introduction of no-fault divorce will likely make DIY divorce a lot easier as there’s less ‘barrier for entry’.
No-fault divorce, unlike fault-based divorce, doesn’t require:
- Either party to blame the other for the relationship breakdown.
- A period of separation before the divorce application.
- Either party’s consent.
It also can’t be contested and can be applied for jointly.
Essentially, there’s no eligibility criteria other than the fact that the marriage has irretrievably broken down.
For this reason, there will be a lot less for the divorce applicant(s) to do – making DIY divorce much easier than it’s ever been before.
What are the pros and cons of DIY no-fault divorce?
Click here to read the full article.