DIY Divorce

Mistibee

I have been separated from my husband for many years now ( over 10!!), and I have 2 children aged 15 and 17 who live with me. My husband lives about 6 miles away with his partner and children and although I dont have anything to do with his new family we still get on ok. At one point in time many years ago I thought we could get back together but I now realise that that would have not been a good idea, and things have changed so much that I would rather be on my own with my children.I have been looking on the Direct Gov website at how to organise a divorce yourself, and from what i can make out ,it will cost me about £ 400?. There is also a divorce court in Northampton where I live so that makes it easier. The grounds would be adultery(woman he is with now), we have no savings and our marital home will be put on the market in the spring with very little equity so we will not have a lot of money to split. The kids have always been free to see him when they want( not so keen now they are growing up!!!), so I dont think it sounds too complicated?Has anyone sorted their own divorce,? how long does it take? and is the paperwork a nightmare?Hope you havent dozed off whilst reading this!!!! many thanks:o

Emmzi

I'd go for deseration/ seperation, it makes no difference in the end but he is more likely to sign it.

Caroline73_2

I did it using 'divorce online' website. Really useful and not too expensive. Divorce was on grounds of separation and myself and ex agreed on everything (ironic really). Apparently you can download the correct papers from the court website which is free so I'd do that.

The website gave us a form which related to child custody, access and maintenance. I just completed the arrangement details, my ex signed it and the court 'agreed' it along with the divorce. It was really easy. I'm in Wellingborough so just dropped the papers to the Northampton court and they send it back to your house.

Mistibee

Thankyou for the replies!! caroline, how long did it all take to go through? or anyone else who has used the divorce online website? thankyou

teagan1966

just go st8 thru the court im sure a website would cost u more , its very easy to do it at court , i wasnt working at the time and it didnt cost me anything not sure if thats changed as it was 10 yrs ago

harrys_nan

Hi, If you phone your local court they will post the forms to you with various booklets to help you sort the paper work out, I think you have to fill in 3 copies 1 for you, 1 for your ex and 1 for the court. It also tell you how much you will have to pay in the booklets.
Im in the process of doing mine as we speak.
Do not use the sites that charge you, it's very easy to DIY

Mistibee

thanks Harrys Nan, will phone court this week and ask advice. Its a bit daunting but will be the start of single me again!! mind you im certainly notgoing to go out rushing to find a man in my life again!!

mackemdave

I did my own divorce and it took around 3 mths to complete.Its achievable if you both agree.

What you must do though is to get a consent order in place so that the financials are sorted.This is a additional process which will probably need the assistance of a blood sucker...sorry solicitor

Caroline73_2

Mistibee wrote: »

Thankyou for the replies!! caroline, how long did it all take to go through? or anyone else who has used the divorce online website? thankyou

I think it was about 3 months in total. I didn't know at the time you could it directly through the court.

WelshWoofer

I'm just starting this process too and have had a look the Divorce Online so will be following your thread - good luck with it all.

Just a quick question for anyone thats done a DIY divorce - when you say you get the paperwork and forms from the court which kind of court do you mean? Is it a magistrates court?
There's one in my local town but the crown court is in central Manchester.
Where do I start looking?
Thanks!

thefishdude

you can download the court forms online and you need to fill them in in triplicate and yes it will cost aaround 400 but to start with its 310 you pay more later for nisi/absolute. you dont need to make an appointment you just fill them out, and yes after 5 years you can just file on grouns of seperation you dont need to say any reasons in fact you cant say any reasons as they are all invalid. reasons like adultry have a time stamp on them so to speak so it has to be a recent thing ie you cant say adultry 5 years ago is the reason as why did yo not get divorced then. anyway mute point lol you can file on grounds of speration and basically because you living apart and also as its over 5 years he doesnt even have to agree to teh divorce.