Separation and Divorce - Divorce Information You Ought To Know

If you think that getting a divorce is going to be the only solution to your marriage problems there are some details you'll need to be aware of before you begin the divorce process. The following information describes some of the important issues to consider, but it is often a good idea to talk with a professional before you make any final decisions. Our Divorce Solicitors in Bristol will be able to answer all your important questions and help guide you through the process.

Grounds For Divorce
In England and Wales, you will only be able to get a divorce, if you can show the court that your marriage has broken down irretrievably. Assuming you have been lawfully married for at least 12 months, you would petition the court for a divorce, based upon one of the following reasons:

• Infidelity
• Unreasonable behaviour
• Desertion
• Separation for 2 years
• Separation for 5 years

How Long Does It Take?
There's no fixed time limit for the parties to reach a binding agreement that pleases them both. Just as each relationship differs, so does every divorce, and the additional complications of matters involving finances and any children, as well as the married couple's disposition towards the entire process, is going to have an impact on how long it's going to take to finalise a divorce. In the best case scenario it may take a couple of months, but more complex circumstances might take several years to resolve.

The Cost
There will be standard court costs which will have to be paid to process your divorce, but you'll also have the costs associated with hiring a Divorce Lawyer. These will vary from firm to firm, and will be influenced by the complexity and duration of the divorce process. The most affordable solicitor will not always be the most suitable one, and you should make sure you are satisfied with your chosen representation, and also that your Divorce Solicitor has made you aware of their fees and what the potential costs will be.

Alternatives To Divorce
Whatever the motivation, Separation is an alternative option to divorce, and where a husband and wife only need to be living separately to be regarded as ‘separated'. You can formalise this separation, rather than getting divorced, and even when this may not be desirable, there will probably be specific matters which need to be defined in some form of separation agreement.

Should you be looking at getting a divorce or trying to resolve a Family Law matter, our Divorce Solicitors Bristol office can offer you a choice of solutions and try to work within whatever financial budget you've got.