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Home » Advice Centre » Quickie Divorces & Cut Price Divorces – A Good Idea?

Quickie Divorces & Cut Price Divorces – A Good Idea?

Posted on: 27 April 2022 by Goodwins Family Law Solicitors

A quick search of ‘quickie divorce’, DIY or cheap divorce through any search engine will result in many attractive ads suggesting that getting a divorce can be quicker and cheaper than ever before. These range from very small amounts such as £37 up to the higher end of the spectrum – £200, to rival that of any solicitor’s fee. With this in mind, a quickie divorce can seem like a very attractive option, particularly if you are under financial constraint.

Cut Price DIY Divorces - A Good Idea?

What is a “Quickie Divorce”

Despite the promises of many online services, there’s no such thing as a ‘quickie divorce.’ The duration of a divorce process is entirely dependent on how quickly it takes a judge to pronounce the Decree Nisi. No matter how much we crave a fast divorce, there’s simply no way to avoid going through the legal process to ensure that the marriage is dissolved properly and legally.

Essential Steps

In the face of an attractive quickie divorce offer, it’s essential to remember the necessary steps which cannot and should not be bypassed. At a core level, there are 3 essential steps you must take to obtain a divorce, the first being an application to the court to obtain permission for the divorce. This involves filing a petition which states the reason for the dissolution of the marriage. This can then be approved by the court resulting in a decree nisi, to show there is no reason you cannot divorce. Following this, you must apply for a decree absolute to legally end your marriage.

Common Pitfalls

In pursuit of a quickie divorce, many couples bypass essential steps. For example, without court approval regarding the division of assets both in the present and future tense, you could be spelling financial ruin in the future. Court approval will ensure that the way you split your assets will be legally binding and ensure there are no further claims made in the future. For example, if you won the lottery 5 years after the divorce and did not obtain court approval declaring any future assets are solely yours, your ex-partner could still claim a proportion of that money.

What Can Slow Down a Divorce?

A cut price or DIY divorce is not advisable if you and your partner cannot decide certain issues outside of court, such as financial support and child care. The time it takes for both parties to reach agreement on matters such as these can affect the time it takes for the Decree Absolute to finalise. If parties also do not keep to the court schedule when returning documents etc, this can also slow down the proceedings. It’s important to note that there is a mandatory six-week gap between the Decree Nisi and the Decree Absolute. Divorcing without proper legalities can cause many problems further down the line; this could be anything from claims to new financial windfalls to the acquisition of assets which have nothing to do with the marriage but your spouse may still have a claim to.

Saving Money During a Fast Divorce

You can save money on your divorce without engaging in any sketchy internet services by using a few simple tactics:

Keep the lines of communication between you and your spouse open – using your solicitor as a channel for communication can rack up unnecessary costs that would otherwise be avoided if you could talk to each other directly. This can include volunteering information about income, assets and debt, as you can discuss how to deal with this fairly or at the very least gauge your partner’s opinion on the matter.

This will help you to ensure a decision regarding assets, child care, and shared property is dealt with outside of court, thereby avoiding costly legal fees. Whilst this may not always be possible, and there will be details you need to discuss with solicitors present, discussing issues independently could save you from essentially paying your solicitor to listen to you and your spouse argue. Any conclusions you come to can then be discussed with your solicitor to ensure the outcome is in your best interests.

Whichever route you choose to take when obtaining your divorce, the help and advice of a specialist family solicitor is invaluable – you need not spend hours in their office, but obtaining some simple help and advice when it comes to filing for divorce could save you time and money in the long term.

If you’re looking for a reputable family law solicitor in the Harrow, London area, consider Goodwins Family Law Solicitors. Goodwins provides a range of services to guide you through your divorce proceedings, from initial advice to representation in court. No matter your circumstances, our team of experienced divorce solicitors will offer the support and expertise you need to navigate the divorce process.

For a specialist family solicitor in the London area, please take a look at our Divorce page.

About Goodwins

Established for over 30 years
Family law and divorce specialists
Members of The Law Society
Excellent client satisfaction rate

Goodwins Family Law Solicitors is a registered company in England. © Goodwins Family Law Solicitors 2024. All Rights Reserved.

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