Divorce proceedings - myself?

shiprob195

mookiandco wrote: »

1) Read leaflets on HMCS website e.g I want a divorce what do I do etc

2) Complete Divorce Petition
(Use D8 Notes for guidance as a step by step guide. Ensure you use the correct wording and provide the correct information. If you get it wrong then you will cause huge delays and end up spending more money putting it right.
If you have children complete Statement of Arrangements form.

3) Sign the divorce petition and date it.

4) Make 3 copies of the divorce petition. Keep one for your records. Take 2 copies and the original to the court with your original marriage certificate and £300 cheque or cash.

5) Wait forever for court to issue it (usually a couple of weeks they wont do it there and then).

6) receive notice of issue from the court which confirms they have sent it to your ex.

7) Ex has 7 days (but you should give it 14 days before checking with the court) to return acknowledgement of service form to the court. As it is on 2 years seperation he MUST return this as it requires him to say that he agrees that you have been seperated for 2yrs. If he fails to return this you may have to change the fact you relied on. Again alot of time and money will be wasted if this happens. Even then if he fails to return it you will have to prove he has received it (usually through bailiff service) before the divorce can move on.

8) If acknowledgment of service is returned to court, the court will send it to you together with affidavit to complete (its mainly just yes or no questions e.g do you agree everythingn your divorce petition is correct etc. Take this to court and swear it (or to a solicitors firm where it will cost £5.00). You must attach the acknowledgement of service form and mark it 'Exhibit A'.

9) copy your affidavit for your records. Complete and sign application for Special procedure trial (basically where a divorce is uncontested you are applying for the court to grant decree nisi).

10) Take both above documents to court.

11) Wait endlessly for court to process above documents.

12) Receive document from court which gives you a date for Decree Nisi (usually about a month later)

13) receive Decree Nisi a few days after the date provided for in 12) above

14) Get your calendar out and mark 6 weeks and 1 day later in it

15) give consideration to whether you want a Consent Order for a Clean break (see a solicitor if unsure).

16) 6 weeks and 1 day later complete application for Decree Absolute and give it to the court with £40.

17) Twiddle your thumbs a bit and put the champagne on ice.

18) Kiss the postman when he delivers your Decree Absolute!

19) Frame a copy but make sure you keep original in a safe place in case you decide to marry again!!

20) Party Time!!


The court website isnt feeling very well this evening so I will try again when it is and put the appropriate forms/leaflets referred to above into my step by step guide!

Good luck!

Great post.....

....and be aware that both the decree nisi and the decree absolute will be printed on the cheapest naffest paper available to the court.

I am a recently divorced woman :j...I have made several copies and filed them all in different places (the original is in a very safe place).....I will not be needing it for future marriage purposes.....NEVER AGAIN....lol:eek: