Divorce

Here to support you through the legal and practical steps required to bring a relationship to an end.

These guys are the best at what they are doing! Great communication with client and job always done on time! Definitely recommended.

Mehmet via Yell Reviews

Divorce Lawyers London & Southeast

Dealing with a divorce will undoubtedly be an emotional time for you and your loved ones. Instructing the assistance of a divorce solicitor will help you understand your rights and ensure you gain the best outcome for you and your family. For specialist legal advice in relation to your divorce, please get in touch today.

Divorce

Civil Partnership Dissolution

Finances on Divorce

High Net Worth Divorce

Divorce

Choosing to start divorce proceedings can feel overwhelming, especially if you have children with your spouse. At Appleman Legal, we can provide trusted guidance and support throughout the entire process. 

Before you consider the grounds on which you are going to use for your divorce, you need to first make sure that your relationship meets all of the legal requirements. 
To get divorced in England & Wales, you must have been married for at least 12 months and your relationship has irretrievably broken down. You can only pursue a divorce if your marriage is legally recognised in the UK and the UK is the permanent home of one of the parties. 

The divorce process

Once you have established that you want to bring your marriage to an end, the next question is often how to actually go about getting a divorce? The divorce procedure can be broken down into five main stages:

    If you are the applying party (the Petitioner), you must firstly complete the Divorce Petition.
    The court will then send a copy of the Divorce Petition to your spouse (the Respondent). They must acknowledge this within seven days.
    Once the Petition has been acknowledged, you can apply for the Decree Nisi (first decree). This states that the court does not see any reason why the divorce cannot proceed.
    The Decree Absolute (final decree) can be applied for six weeks and a day after receiving your Decree Nisi.
    Once the Decree Absolute is granted, this is the last stage of the divorce process of divorce and marks the end of the marriage in legal terms.
Illustration

Civil partnership dissolution

If a civil partnership breaks down, it is possible to end the partnership by applying to the court for a dissolution order. 

Bringing a civil partnership to an end can be a stressful and emotional time, but we are here to help. At Appleman Legal, our specialist family lawyers can guide and advise you to ensure the best outcome in your circumstances. 

How long does the dissolution process take?

The length of time the dissolution process takes will depend on whether the parties agree, how complicated the issues are and whether any disagreements can be resolved by mediation or requires court intervention.

It is always advisable to try and use mediation to resolve any issues rather than going through the courts since this will generally be faster, cheaper and a lot less stressful and will allow you to retain control of the process.

Similar to a divorce, ending a civil partnership can be complex, but we are here to help you throughout the entire process.

Illustration

Considering getting a divorce?

Friendly Divorce Lawyers in London & Southeast

Speak with a member of our team today to discuss your particular circumstances.

Financial settlements

A financial settlement is a legally binding document that determines how the assets and wealth of both parties will be divided in a divorce.

Illustration

Every financial settlement will depend on the assets and liabilities of both parties (such as property, bank accounts, pensions, and any debts). Various factors will determine the terms of a financial settlement, including:

    The finances of both parties, including what financial contribution they made to the marriage
    Any non-financial contributions to the marriage, for example raising the family or running the household
    The earnings of the parties including any potential differences in the future

What happens if we cannot reach an agreement?

If you cannot reach an agreement, non-litigious methods, such as negotiation or mediation, are usually recommended where possible. These methods tend to be faster, less confrontational, and not as stressful for those involved.
At Appleman Legal, our divorce specialists can advise on all matters relating to financial settlement. We can review your circumstances to make sure you reach a fair settlement to allow you to move on with your life.

High net worth divorce

The end of any relationship is difficult, but high net worth divorces have their own specific complications. Our divorce solicitors can offer tailored advice based on the circumstances of your divorce to ensure that you get the best possible outcome.

Illustration

Due to the very nature of these divorces and the fact that large wealth is involved, we recognise that these cases can be particularly acrimonious and need to be handled very sensitively. There are various issues that may need to be considered and our high net worth divorce lawyers can advise you in relation to any issue you might face, including:

    High net worth individuals will often have assets that are held in complicated structures (for example in trusts) that will cause additional legal difficulties.
    Valuations of assets is a lot more complicated in these cases, particularly if there are assets held overseas.
    Determining which assets were acquired pre- and post-marriage is also more likely to arise and cause issues in these types of divorce.

If the marriage has an international element, it may be that there is a choice of where the divorce should be filed. Countries have different rules in relation to divorce which is why it is recommended to get legal advice as soon as possible, especially if your spouse has already started proceedings.

Contact our Divorce Lawyers London

Dealing with all aspects of a divorce can seem overwhelming, but our specialist lawyers can advise you through the whole process and make sure you understand what is happening at every stage. We can help.

Illustration
Illustration
Illustration
Illustration
Illustration