Going through a divorce can be an extremely emotionally challenging time, as well as being a deeply sensitive topic to discuss. Because of this difficulty in turning to others for help, many people who are struggling through the divorce process turn to the internet for advice.
On average, there are 31,000 searches on Google every month for queries containing the word “divorce” in the United Kingdom alone. This prompted divorce lawyer Joanna Hawkins, founder of Hawkins Family Law, to help users by answering these queries properly with her legal expertise and knowledge.
1. How much does a divorce cost?
“We regularly see big celebrity divorces and horror stories in the papers about thousands of pounds being spent on divorce proceedings. However, much of this will relate to untangling their finances. Divorce alone is rarely expensive. How much it will cost to resolve financial issues usually depends on how complex the finances are and how much disagreement there is.
There are two main costs associated with the divorce process (that are separate from costs relating to matrimonial finances or children issues): solicitors costs, and then disbursements.
Solicitors’ costs will vary depending on the level of experience of the family lawyer, although often you can find a family solicitor who will offer a fixed fee for this work. The petitioner in the divorce proceedings should budget in the region of £500 – £750 plus VAT for the divorce process itself. If you are the respondent in the proceedings, the fees you incur are likely to be much lower, around £200 – £400 plus VAT.
Disbursements are expenses incurred by a solicitor whilst completing work on behalf of a client. In relation to divorce proceedings, for most parties, this will only be the divorce application fee charged by the court of £550 (NB: as of 30 September 2021, the court fee for a divorce application will be £593). Other disbursements that may apply might include obtaining a replacement marriage certificate or organising a translation of the marriage certificate if the ceremony took place abroad.”
2. How can I get a quick divorce?
“There is no such thing as a quick divorce in England and Wales – there is a process that has to be followed which has built-in time frames that everyone has to follow. Whilst you might be looking to Google for this answer as you want the situation resolved quickly, it’s important to remember the scale of the process you are about to undergo.”
3. What happens in a divorce if you commit adultery?
“In order to be able to rely on adultery as the reason why marriage has irretrievably broken down, you will either need proof or an admission or confession statement. Understandably obtaining proof is not easy and therefore you might want to rely on unreasonable behaviour rather than adultery.
People also often have a misconception that the fact relied on will impact their ultimate financial settlement. Whilst in some very extreme cases this may be so – if conduct can be proved – more often than not the fact relied on plays no further part in the divorce or financial matters.”
There are many questions to be answered when it comes to getting a divorce and the answer can vary depending on individual situations. Seeking professional advice and speaking to someone about your own situation is the best way to receive all the answers you need and start the process. You can find further questions and answers on filing for divorce here – https://hawkinsfamilylaw.co.uk/family-law-advice/the-most-searched-divorce-questions-and-expert-answers/
