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Original poster

How long does it take to get the decree nisi?

29 replies

iamnotwhat · 13/04/2016 21:38

Can anyone help me get my head around the divorce process?

My STBXH sat on the acknowledgment of service form for a bit (grrr), but the court must have got it around Easter. I've not heard anything since and I'm starting to feel a little concerned that he didn't sign it or is contesting it or...

Does anyone know how long it usually takes for the court to send the next forms out to the petitioner (me)?

And how long it's likely to take for the decree nisi to come through after that?

I know I must sound impatient - I guess I am! I just want to be able to move on.

OP posts:
runningincircles12 · 14/04/2016 09:53

It depends on how busy the court is. If he has definitely sent back the acknowledgement of service form, I would expect the court to pass it on to you within 2-3 weeks or so, depending on how busy they are. You can call them to confirm that they have definitely received it.

You then need to complete the application in support of a decree nisi, verifying that the contents of your petition are still true. Sometimes you will get a quick response from the court- 2 weeks or so. Sometimes they will sit on it for 6 weeks. I would say chase after about 4-6 weeks of hearing nothing.

The reason why there might be delays is that the decree nisi has to be pronounced in open court. Therefore, it has to be put on a list of cases where the decree nisi is read out by the district judge. They won't be doing DN pronouncements every day, so it can take some time for your DN to be added to the list.

Then after that you need to wait for 6 weeks for the decree absolute application or ideally until you have a financial settlement agreed and the consent order sealed by the court.

Interestingly (although maybe not to most people), when the daily mail etc talk about 'Gary Lineker granted a quickie divorce- the judge took just 10 seconds to dissolve the marriage', what they are referring to is the judge reading the name out in open court and presumably some saddo journalist sitting there listening to the DN pronouncements of the day. There is no such thing as quickie divorce and it is a paper exercise. But I bet DM readers are imagining a trial of sorts with the judge finding the facts so overwhelming that it takes him just 10 seconds. Oh and of course, they fail to grasp that the DN does not actually dissolve the marriage. But that is a rant for another day....

Original poster
iamnotwhat · 14/04/2016 10:24

runningincircles12, that is great. Thank you so much for all that info.

I've misplaced my case number so I can't get an update from the court by phone, so I'm writing to them today.

Thanks again. I really appreciate your help.

OP posts:
runningincircles12 · 14/04/2016 10:30

Good luck! Really they should be able to assist you by looking up your case number on their system if you give them your name. However, in my experience, court staff tend to be incredibly grumpy, so maybe a letter is the best way....
Or your STBXH should have the case number as presumably he still has the sealed petition. Can understand if you don't want to contact him though.

Original poster
iamnotwhat · 14/04/2016 10:47

When I phoned the court yesterday they said they couldn't give me any info as I could be anyone. I'd rather not ask H as he's quite likely to get either cross or upset, both of which I find quite difficult to deal with. So, I shall go with trusty snail mail and hopefully will find out what's going on shortly!

Thanks again

OP posts:
Original poster
iamnotwhat · 19/04/2016 13:43

The papers arrived and were returned to the court by return. I feel happier now I know things are moving again.

Thanks again for your help.

OP posts:
Familylawsolicitor · 19/04/2016 14:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
iamnotwhat · 19/04/2016 14:38

Thanks so much for your message.

It's the Durham family court. They were lovely when I spoke to them at the very start, which meant a lot to me. The email progress address seems like a good idea, but I don't think we have one of those (I doubt Durham will be as busy as Bury St Edmonds, so probably don't need it quite the same).

Thanks again

OP posts:
Original poster
iamnotwhat · 19/04/2016 14:38

Sorry, Edmunds not Edmonds...

OP posts:
Le9999 · 21/04/2016 21:27

Hi . Can anyone advise me pleas. I send form degree nisi in 5 April to the court and I don't her anything . And I call the court toady . The receptionist say for me I can't see your form in your a file.
What I have do now

Collaborate · 22/04/2016 10:05

It depends how far behind they are in allocating post to files. ring next week and ask them that. You may have to apply again if it's been misfiled or lost.

Familylawsolicitor · 22/04/2016 14:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Izahi123 · 19/09/2016 21:45

I applied in divorce in manchester for about now feb'16. I have applied for decree nisi in april and and due some imp work i went out of city, i missed place my papers but i again submitted after doing corrections for decree nisi in august and waiting for the reply or decree nisi pronouncement, how long is it going to take in Manchester to issue DN! I m done with all the settlement, its giving me so much headache.

Izahi123 · 29/09/2016 01:46

Hey! I posted on farun too about mg querry, but no redponse, i want to know how long is it taking these days to process decree nisi, i did ring court after two weeks, they said they have received the papers mad are in que but its been five months i have got no reply from anywhere, mine court is family and county Manchester courts. They did said its taking 4 to ) weeks though.

Lindy99 · 18/10/2016 10:20

Hi, can anyone advise me please? My divorce case was scheduled to be heard on 27th September, but I haven't received the Nisi yet (18th Oct). How long does it take to get a reply? I have tried to phone the court, but the line is constantly busy and when I did get in the queue, this morning, the phone was hung up just as I got to the front!

Izahi123 · 18/10/2016 22:22

With in a week i guess @lindy99. Try ringing them again. Thats what other told. Though I have applied for decree Nisi, its 8th week, I haven't received any entitlement letter yet. 🙄

Lindy99 · 19/10/2016 07:19

Thanks Izahi 123. I'll keep trying the phone line.

Dk90 · 10/11/2016 12:13

Hi, just wondering what is the current proccessing time for decree nisi. I am the respondent and I beleive it has been over 9 weeks, i still havent received anything yet.(bury st edmunds). I called them up a few times and they keep saying the judge haven't looked at it yet so might take couple more weeks but its been like 6 weeks they said that. I am a little concerned. Could anyone suggest something!

Chele72 · 22/12/2016 15:28

Hi Im waiting for my decree nisi to be granted. Im with Bury st Edmunds. They received mine on 09.12.16 and was emailed back today saying its not been put infront of the judge yet!
God this process is too longwinded and I just want it over and done with also. Its so time consuming and rubbish!!

Alorsmum · 24/12/2016 10:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mamika · 05/10/2018 20:17

Hi, i have received an email from Bury St edmunds on the 27th of september saying they are processing my application for decree nisi.. What does that mean exactly? What does that mean in terms of timing? Can anyone give me an indication of current processing times? B.

Familylawsolicitor · 06/10/2018 09:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mamika · 06/10/2018 09:46

really?! someone mentioned it could take up to 5 months - do you think that is possible? or is it rather 2/3 months?

Familylawsolicitor · 06/10/2018 11:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mamika · 06/10/2018 14:45

ok thank you!

MissedTheBoatAgain · 08/10/2018 03:09

Mine took almost a year, but that was partly down to Ex hiding original of marriage certificate. Plus court did not like that we were living at same address. So I had to move out and re-apply.