Decree Absolute as respondent

I_told_you_so

Just a quick query. My friend is going through a divorce at the moment.
He is the respondent, his ex is the petitioner. Divorce has been at stage decree nisi for almost a year as his ex is not disclosing her financial details to his solicitor as part of the divorce proceedings. She has made all sorts of demands but now that each party has to disclose, she is not doing so.
He has been thinking of applying for the decree absolute himself now as the respondent, but his solicitor said it would be rejected as there is no financial settlement in place.
I am no legal expert but surely you do not need a financial settlement to get a divorce finalized ?
We have searched the internet a bit and it would appear that there would be a hearing but it should still only be a formality. Some sources point to a case Dart v. Dart that may be relevant, but we haven't managed to find too much detail about it.
Does anybody have some experience with applying for the decree absolute as the respondent by any chance ?

Gloomendoom

Have you read this?

http://www.marilynstowe.co.uk/2012/07/30/applying-for-the-decree-absolute-and-what-comes-next/

I_told_you_so

Yes, we have read this.

He is a month further and still no news at all, his solicitor keeps sending a chaser every month to the other party's solicitor but never gets a reply.
He has pressed his own solicitor again about applying for the decree absolute himself now as the respondent, but she keeps telling him 'the judge won't like it so don't bother'
So in effect he can't get a divorce until his wife discloses her financial affairs and if she decides she won't do that he has to stay married to her ?
This seems to be ridiculous situation to be in ?
Has anybody got any experience with applying for the decree absolute as the respondent ?
Or what a reasonable time frame is within which a financial disclosure can be expected ?

athensgeorgia

Has he issued formal financial proceedings?