4 months before Judge will look at my Consent Order

[Itsnotme123]

Just a moan really. My solicitor originally said (before she went on maternity leave) 6 to 8 weeks before a Judge will look at my consent order. It’s now 8 weeks and I’ve Just had an email from my new sol saying that in her experience, Bury St Edmunds Judge will take up to 4 months before seeing it.

Meanwhile my stbx has gone to a conveyancing solicitor to start proceedings for the mfh deeds to be signed over to him. So I’ll have to get quotes for my side (as my solicitors firm doesn’t deal with conveyancing).

I’m not sure I would’ve started this process of divorce if I had know it’ll all take 16+ months.

Guess I just need a hand held really.

Courts in general are overloaded. I started divorce in 2015. Average time between hearings was 3 to 4 months. Eventually sorted towards end of 2016, some 18 months later.

Obstructive ex was one reason it took long time as some hearings were adjourned as ex had either not followed correct procedure. Ex changing solicitors several times did not help either.

I sometimes thought it would never end and the costs were huge. Plus side was that judge at Final Hearing concluded that ex had delayed the process without good reason and was awarded a big chunk of my costs.

Good luck

I think it took 4 months to get my consent order signed last year .

I didn't use a conveyancer for getting deeds transferred to him. He had to, i just had to sign stuff with witnesses. Be aware they get a bit funny about doing it before the consent order. I did gave to get my divorce solicitor to confirm to their solicitor that we all agreed to it and how much etc

That’s interesting elaeocarpus, my solicitor has recommended that I get one, not sure what to do now, I feel a bit exasperated.

Sounds like there’s no rush atm. She did say that conveyancing sols don’t like doing anything before the consent order is signed and sealed.

Everything is so slow and painful. STBX just up and doesn't reply to solicitor for long stretches of time. No reason given, not sure why, just huge gaps of time when it's his turn. His solicitor is also a space cadet and pretends not to get communications, goes on frequent holidays, and is a general pain in the ass. Couple that with their huge court costs that STBX can't afford and here I am waiting and waiting and just in pain daily over this neverending agony. That's just the legal side, there's other parts to all of this making it hard.

When you all decided to do court, how long was that process then to the first court date from when you made the decision to do the court route? I hear things take a year and it has already been a year of waiting more than getting things completed but we might be here a year what with all these other delays, so I might just go for it anyways. It's so hard!

Sorry had my own moan in your thread.

I thought consent orders took about 8 weeks only. 4 months is inexcusable in a world of waiting!

QuickNCHere When did you start your divorce process ? it is excruciating. My Stbx was slow at the beginning And then wised up half way through the process. My solicitor also took numerous holidays. I feel your pain, and it’s hard to convey to my friends just how hard this all is. I started the divorce process last June and then it went to court mid June this year. So, yes it took a year. As PortLouis1996 said, I think mines going to take 18 months too.

I can’t bear it, it’s sooooo slow, it just better be all worth it in the end.

I’m just lucky that I haven’t got young children and I’m not living with stbx. It must be doubly more difficult.

I needed to cry on my bed this evening to release some pain. We just have to hang on in there.

My consent order was received 12 weeks ago at Bradford, I was told it would take weeks but I'm getting fed up of waiting now. My STBXH hasn't used a solicitor so it is likely we will have to have a quick court hearing before it is hopefully approved. Just want to be divorced already!

London & South East Divorce Unit Current Work Position
Last updated 06/08/19 at 09:14 am
• We are currently processing petitions received on 08/07/19
• We are currently processing help with fees applications received on 05/08/19
• We are currently processing acknowledgements of service received on 16/07/19

• We are currently processing applications for decree nisi received on 18/07/19
• We are currently processing Applications received on 11/07/19
• We are currently processing correspondence including emails received on 11/07/19

• We are currently processing approved decree nisi applications considered on 04/07/19 and refused decree nisi applications considered on 12/07/19
• We are currently processing approved / refused orders made by a District Judge on 15/07/19
• We are currently processing Form As received on 11/07/19
• Consent Orders received on 19/05/2019 are waiting to be considered by a District Judge
• Replies to Consent Order refusals that were received on 02/08/2019 waiting to be considered by a District Judge
• Consent Orders approved and refused by the District Judge on 15/07/19
• We are currently processing Decree Absolutes received on 06/08/19

So it takes them 3 months to look at consent order and then if approved another 2 months to get it typed up by the looks of it 😩😩😩 it’s so frustrating that you can’t put this in before the noses which in itself takes a while!

*nisi not noses 😂

I started the divorce process last Sept. We are 2 years post split. No issues getting divorced and all agreed re finances and childcare. I sent the forms back at the end of Jan to requests a nisi. I rang in June to ask what was happening and was told it had gone to another dept. Waited until last week and am going to obtain my nisi on the 5th Sept! So I imagine that it will be well over a year until I get divorced.

I think it’s just getting worse and worse by the minute. When I started out, I thought it would take about 5 months tops from start to finish. Solicitors didn’t give any indication how long the whole process would take.

We started June ‘18. We all held things up, by my sol going on holiday often, I went away for weeks twice, ex sol went on paternity leave, so it’s didnt help the process.

So it’ll be a good 16 months from start to finish. And we are amicable !

I had an update from my solicitor, my consent order was sent to a judge on 17 July (9 weeks from it being received). The judge is working on consent orders sent through on 4 June so going to be another 6-8 weeks at least before I hear anything further. If it is approved straight away it is looking like the consent order timescale will have been 4-5 months.

I’m not very surprised Lau295 it is getting worse. Someone on another thread said they heard 6 months is the worst.

When the ‘No Fault’ grounds is granted, can you imagine how long a divorce will take then ? As far more couples will be applying.

Oh god, this is not what I wanted to hear! I've just fired off a slightly snotty email to my solicitor as I've heard nothing in 2 months from when I requested the financial order to be done (we aren't doing the full on Consent Order). I also know ex received decree nisi directly 2 weeks ago as he isn't using a solicitor but i havent had anything.

Im also remortgaging and conveyancers have asked for court docs to say about finances, which it looks like I'm not going to have for a long time now. How do we get around this? Ex has agreed the terms for coming off the mortgage. He does seem reluctant before the order is done but I don't see why as I'm borrowing more than I need so he can get the amount we agreed.

Just an update on mine, my STBXH received the approved consent order on Friday, it had been approved on 30 August. I’ve not heard from my solicitor yet so hoping they contact me today and can apply for the absolute. So my consent order took 16 weeks and another week to be sent out.

So the Judge only had yours for 8 weeks LAU295 ? Which divorce courts is it ?

It was about 7!weeks with the judge but 2 months before it went to the judge. It’s Bradford court.