Divorce & finance DIY route.

simpywimpy

I am about to file my divorce papers but need to also have a consent order (think this is right) to settle who gets what property wise. We have no children together, married 10yrs but I currently own 4 rental properties in my own name after hubby handed over his interest in them when I remortgaged them recently.

We agree that we have a clean break financially.

Has anyone done this themselves and is it just a case of completing the relevant forms and both signing?

I did speak to a solicitor but he made it sound very complicated and the costs were in excess of £1000

Hell1

Hi Simpy wimpy,

I would really recommend you go down the DIY divorce route. I have just done so and it is very straightforward. If you go to yougov and type in divorce, it will come up with a step by step guide. You can also download all forms from the website. Much better than giving lots of money to a solicitor, particularly if your split is simple.

I have just divorced my ex, very amicably, for only just over £400.

Good luck.


Hell1

simpywimpy

Thanks Hell1, I don't see the point in paying for solicitors unnecessarily. I want to keep the houses, hubby agrees but solicitor didnt seem to think a court would agree.

Tigsteroonie

You won't need a solicitor for the Divorce, but it is always recommended that you have a solicitor for the Consent Order (the finances). This because you are obliged to draft a legally binding document detailing who gets what, and then have that ratified by the court; for a lay person to do that in a way that is acceptable to the court is unlikely.

For more information on the entire process, especially the DIY divorce, take a look at the Wikivorce website.

Dazedandconfused

I used to work for a family law dept but don't work for solicitors any more so no motive in saying this. I would say divorce you can do DIY route but make sure you get legal advice re the finances. It's much more hassle in the long run if you overlook something.

simpywimpy

Ive been looking through the notes that come with the papers for the divorce and although there is a form for the consent order, the info on what you need to provide is rather vague

Tigsteroonie

simpywimpy wrote: »

Ive been looking through the notes that come with the papers for the divorce and although there is a form for the consent order, the info on what you need to provide is rather vague

I would imagine that all you have there is the first form to start the Financial Proceedings (Form A1, I think it is). You need to read up on the process, as it'll involve mediation, possible full disclosure via Form E, then at least one Court appearance. Still, all that is preferable to your Ex reappearing after five years and demanding 50% of your money

marywooyeah

Tigsteroonie wrote: »

I would imagine that all you have there is the first form to start the Financial Proceedings (Form A1, I think it is). You need to read up on the process, as it'll involve mediation, possible full disclosure via Form E, then at least one Court appearance. Still, all that is preferable to your Ex reappearing after five years and demanding 50% of your money

form A, form E etc are only needed in contested financial matters, for a consent order this can just be drawn up and approved then sealed by the court. OP has stated that they both want a clean break, so neither party would be able to come back in the future seeking any kind of settlement from the other (providing of course that the clean break is provided for in the consent order)

I completely agree with your advice that OP needs a solicitor for the consent order though, if it's not thorough enough the court won't approve it.

OP why don't you and hubby draw up your proposed consent order, then pay for an hour or so with the solicitor for some advice? that way you can save on costs and still get some legal advice.

mintymoneysaver

Hi, I've just gone through the process of a DIY divorce, very simple £410. Only the basic forms to fill in as OH and I just agreed the finances and said that it was all agreed. I am buying him out of our house but nowhere has it asked what we are doing about it all.

I don't have the properties that you need to think about but you can get divorced without needing to disclose or sort any financial details.