Getting a divorce can be stressful and confusing for everyone involved. Glaser Jones Law is a tight knit team of divorce and family law specialists. We provide practical and supportive advice to individuals dealing with the consequences of family breakdown. We are based in London but provide advice to people across the UK as well as to those based overseas with a UK connection who wish to divorce using the courts here.
We’ll work tirelessly to support you during the emotional transition of divorce, and we’ll make sure that you receive fair and reasonable treatment throughout the entire process.
The divorce procedure in England and Wales does not need proof that your spouse has done anything wrong, just that the marriage is coming to an end.
As your legal advisors most of our time will be spent helping you resolve issues about finances and sorting out day-to-day living arrangements for you children. Things might get tough – they often do. But you can rely on us to deliver robust advice in a supportive and sympathetic way.
“You made a very painful time in my life easier. I found myself unable to see my children and you gave me the right advice and also hope. I appreciate all the time and hard work you spent on my case. I have my children with me regularly now. That says it all.” Client, 2023
How We Can Help You During Divorce
In divorce cases our areas of expertise include:
- Division of assets – We’ll ensure you understand the approach courts take to dividing assets like the family home, pensions and savings and investments. We’ll try our best to reach an agreed settlement with your spouse that meets your future needs, but we’ll not hesitate to issue court proceedings on your behalf if an agreement is not possible or we are met by unreasonable or obstructive behaviour from your spouse
- Child arrangements – Family courts make their decisions based on the best interests of the child. In our experience agreements about children that parents reach privately often work best in the long run. We’ll work closely with you to finalise child arrangements with your spouse as quickly and as smoothly as possible
- Child maintenance payments – Unlike spousal maintenance the amount of child maintenance payable is usually established through the Child Maintenance Service (CMS). We can advise you on what to expect in terms of child maintenance, advise you on any dispute that arises over the rate payable and assist you in securing payment for your children from a non-co-operative spouse
- Spousal maintenance payments – Maintenance (sometimes known as alimony) is paid to ensure both parties can continue to live in the manner to which they have become accustomed. In the UK there’s no automatic right to maintenance and there is no fixed formula for setting spousal maintenance. As your solicitor we will apply our technical knowledge of previous court decisions and use our years of experience to ensure we negotiate the best deal with your spouse
- Mediation and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) – Mediation and other forms of ADR are increasingly used to reach divorce settlements. Indeed, if you are unable to agree a settlement and wish to issue court proceedings you will usually have to attend at least one mediation session. We can advise you on various ADR techniques and, if you do reach an agreement with a family mediator, we can help formalise what you have agreed into a consent order for court approval
- Jewish divorce and Get – Our principal solicitor, Shlomit Glaser has extensive experience in assisting Jewish couples thanks to her time spent as a lawyer in Israel. By combining this experience with the knowledge she’s gained as a solicitor in England, Shlomit can guide you through the intricacies of obtaining a Jewish divorce alongside an English civil divorce
We also advise unmarried couples who are separating. There are differences between married and non-married couples when it comes to financial rights. We can advise you on any potential claim to property or financial relief that you may have.
What Is the Process For Getting A No-Fault Divorce?
You can only get a divorce in England and Wales if:
- You have been married for at least a year
- The marital relationship has permanently broken down
- Your marriage was recognised legally in the UK
What is the usual divorce process?
- If you and your spouse agree, and there is no suggestion of domestic abuse, you can make a joint divorce application
- If your husband or wife doesn’t agree, or you think your spouse will be uncooperative or unresponsive you can apply for a divorce on your own
- Whether the application is made jointly or by one spouse only, it must contain the key statement that the marriage has irretrievably broken down
- The divorce process can’t be stopped because one spouse objects
- Once the court accepts the application you must wait for a period of 20 weeks to reflect on your decision to divorce. During this time it is crucial to try to reach agreement on matters relating to children and finances
- If you then confirm you wish to proceed the court has no option but to accept the breakdown of the marriage and make a divorce order
- The court issues a conditional order first and then a final order of divorce is made
UK Divorce – Some Of Your Key Questions Answered
How does a divorce process starts and can my spouse stop our divorce?
The divorce system in England and Wales is designed partly to ensure that no one is forced to stay married when they want a divorce. You will need make an application to court for a divorce on a form. The changes to the law which came into power in April 2022 meant that your spouse cannot stop the divorce , but there are some circumstances where a divorce application might fail if the divorce form is not completed properly. We can advise you how to avoid that.
Will I have to go to court?
In most cases the process for getting a final order of divorce doesn’t involve attending court, unless there are complications.
How long does it take to get divorced?
There’s an obligatory waiting period of 20 weeks between the time you first apply for a divorce and being able to seek a conditional order of divorce. After that there’s a further six-week period before the court can make the order final. So, divorce takes at least 26 weeks. If negotiations about finances and children are prolonged it might take more time to divorce, particularly if the case is a complex one.
We got married in another country. Can we still get divorced in the UK?
Yes, in most cases courts here can order a divorce when a marriage was celebrated abroad. You must be able to produce a valid marriage certificate (translated into English if necessary) and you must be able to demonstrate that the marriage took place in accordance with the laws of the relevant country. Finally you must meet residence and domicile requirements. If you have the option to divorce in more than one country, it’s advisable to obtain legal advice because your financial settlement is likely to differ considerably from country to country. Glaser Jones Law is experienced in dealing with such situations and can help to make the process easier for you.
Can we both use the same solicitors for our divorce?
Yes. Both spouses can use the same solicitor for their divorce. However, the nature of a separation is that it could be difficult for us to look after the best interests of both you and your husband or wife, since these will often be different and need assessing separately. Solicitors must ensure that there is no conflict of interest in acting for both parties. When financial assets are being divided and child arrangements are being decided this can often be a difficult hurdle to overcome. So while in theory it may be possible for both spouses to use the same lawyer for their divorce, in practice it is not always the best approach. The most important thing to us is that you will be taken care of as an individual and that can be more difficult if we are acting for a couple.
If you would like to discuss any aspect of divorce or family law in general please contact us on 020 7993 7173 or 07875 337350. You can also contact us online. We are happy to discuss your situation over the phone before you commit to anything and before you meet us in person.
