How long did your divorce take?

[Whatsyourstory]

Hi All,

Currently in the process of divorce and have been separated for a while. I have done the application online and now playing the waiting game.

I'm curious to know how long your divorce took? Does six months seem realistic? No property or assets to divide so should be relatively straightforward! I'm hoping it will be completed by the end of the year or am I being unrealistic?! Thanks!

Annnyyyyyone....?!

Exh dragged out mediation so took a year of too-ing and fro-ing but once everything was agreed it took about 3 months. Divorced was finalised first, financial agreement about a month later. Friend's took about 3 months, did it themselves. Don't think you're being us reasonable at all assuming no backlog at the courts. Hope that helps and good luck xxx

Thank you so much for responding. This has reassured me greatly, thanks very much! X

The new system says 6-7 months is minimum for a 'straightforward' divorce. I submitted my application 2 weeks ago and it still hasn't been served. But once that happens it is 2 weeks for him to respond (he doesn't have to to make it go ahead), 20 week 'cool off period' until conditional order, then 6 weeks to final order. I don't think there's any rushing it, but someone who has done it recently might be able to confirm or deny that!

Mine will have been about 11 months (assume financial consent order accepted) under the new system. The 26 weeks + 1 day touted on gov.uk is insanely aspirational as assumes no court delays and immediate responses from exs. I had to wait nearly 2 weeks for him to respond from the initial application that starts the 20 weeks and them there was a 3 week court wait for conditional order and now an 8 week wait for the consent order before we can do the final order.

Mine took 12 months but ex delayed responding to consent order. I would seriously think about having a consent order even though there are no assets, as this protects both of you in the future (when you may have assets /pensions etc). After the 20 week cooling off period, in my case there was a delay of 4 weeks for the courts to issue the conditional order. Plus my consent order took nearly 4 weeks to be approved, before I could apply for the final order.

I started the process off in January 2023. He had left the previous summer to be with OW.

I am still waiting for him to sign the consent order so it can go to court. I have the conditional order but I won't process the final until consent order is signed.

He's been sitting on this for absolutely ages and my solicitor has sent yet another chase email today to his solicitors. It's so bloody frustrating! When I started this I thought I would have been divorced by Christmas 2023 at the latest.

Hopefully your ex isn't this much of a controlling dickhead!

Thank you ladies, much appreciated.

This consent order that's been mentioned is that something that I will automatically get sent with the divorce paperwork?

@Whatsyourstory no it’s not automatic you have to draft one or preferably get a solicitor to do so, your ex has to agree it and sign it too. Then once you have the conditional order it can be sent to court for approval along with a D81 form (can look online for questions on this). Once approved by court you are then free financially from each other with no comeback in the future. When you have this approved you can apply for the final order as long as it’s been the 6 weeks since the conditional order .

Oh blimey 😳 I'm doing it all myself so am worried I'll forget something! Wish there was a checklist 😂

Thank you! X