File yourself, or solicitor ? What do I need copies of ?

[DustyLee123]

Is it better to file yourself, and I believe it’s cheaper, or get the solicitor to do it ? Will they prefer to do ever ?
And what do I need copies of ? I’ve got pictures of his bank/credit cards and pictures of a letter from his pensions. Everything is on line these days so I can’t get his bank accounts.

you could start things yourself as it is easy. You can just go online but if you need to go to any hearings for the financial aspect most definitely invest in solicitor/barrister. I didn’t and it cost me dearly! Make sure they are on your team from the start! If not don’t use them.

File online, you need your marriage certificate and photo id

Thanks, does it take long to do ?

There's lots of info on the wikidivorce website

Doing it yourself it definitely something you can do, especially with the resources available today. Mumsnet is very useful for answering questions and there's a bunch of Facebook groups online dedicated to divorce and answering questions so I would definitely join those and the other resources recommended here. I also use this - https://www.iamlip.com/ which really did help me. It guided me through the entire process through its help guides. It was too expensive for me to get a solicitor to help.

Do the paperwork yourself for sure. You don’t need much just to issue form A.

Thanks all !

The petition for divorce is easy - it was designed on line for people to do themselves. The site on gov.com has loads of guiding info. Any solicitors who don’t tell you to do it yourself are scam artists imho.
you’ll need marriage cert, and a few other basic info bits, they tell you what to get at start of process on line, then filling in takes less than 1 hour. I read it all first, gathered my docs and petitioned in less than 45 mins.

just 1 confusing bit- tick the box that you want court to make financial agreement even if you’re going consent order route. It simply means do you want court to approve ( seal) any financial agreement by which ever route. But that’s the only confusing bit,

also go to link above in title to ADVICE NOW

brilliant guides to all aspects of divorce

the guides cover the process overall so you can see how petition itself works and how links to financial orders, child custody etc.

they tell you what you should use solicitor for, when you might want to use solicitor and when you really don’t need one.

there brilliant at explaining “ fair settlement” to get a good idea of what sort of financial settlement is realistic.

Should explain a bit

there are 3 separate processes for divorcing - the processes are handled in parallel , but some can’t start until you have your case number or even until after your interim order

the divorce petition itself- online,Simple- this is bit you always need

getting a “ sealed” ( legally approved) financial agreement - you’d be idiot not to do this but it’s not mandated. Dan start once you have case number, but can’t be submitted to court until after interim order, and best to get sealed at same time as final order

child/ dependent custody orders- only needed if you have dependants

the last 2, particularly the financial agreement , is what causes most issues between couples, cost the most money, takes the longest time BECAUSE couples want to argue and fight even though costs them more in the end.