Family and Child Law Solicitors London & Cambridge

What are the grounds for divorce?

Where one spouse wishes to commence divorce proceedings, they need to first make sure all the following have to apply:
● The couple have been married for at least 12 months.● The relationship has permanently broken down.● The marriage is legally recognised in the UK.● The UK is the permanent home of one of the spouses.
If the above grounds are met, then the spouse requesting a divorce needs to show one of the following five grounds:
● The other spouse has committed adultery, which is sexual intercourse with someone of the opposite sex. This ground cannot be used where the two parties continued to live together as a couple for more than six months since discovering the adultery.● Unreasonable behaviour- the behaviour of the other spouse means it is unreasonable for you to live together. This can include physical violence, verbal abuse, alcohol or drug abuse and refusing to contribute financially to the family expenses.● Desertion by the other spouse for a continuous period of at least two years.● Separation from the other spouse for at least two years and both agree to divorce.● Separation for at least five years, even without the consent of the other party.

The divorce process

Whether or not the divorce is contested will affect the length of time it takes to finalise and also the cost of the entire process. The divorce can be a paper-based exercise where both parties agree. Where the parties do not agree then the matter may end up proceeding through the courts, though mediation or other alternative forms to litigation will need to be explored first. An amicable divorce can be completed within about four to six months and the main stages of the divorce are as follows: