Many people may fall into the hopes of online services that offer a quick alternative to divorce.
Generally, a “quickie divorce” cannot be arranged. In the media and the press, celebrities are often reported as having been granted a “quick” divorce, when in fact, there has never been such a divorce. It refers to the pronouncement of a decree nisi in open court, which provides the petitioning party with rights to a divorce. Six weeks after the final divorce certificate is granted, the decree absolute will be issued. Expert reports state that it normally takes between four and six months for a divorce to be finalized and it may result in a longer process if there is a need to settle financial matters.
The divorce process remains largely the same, regardless of whether a couple divorces in a shorter period of time than others. Having said that, your divorce can still be completed efficiently, carefully, and provide you with the best possible outcome, but you should not have unreasonable expectations of how fast it will be completed.
The reality behind the term
The term “quickie divorce” is used in the media, but has no meaning under the law. Divorce is an archaic procedure. Instead of taking weeks, it takes months. In many cases, the final step – the decree absolute – is applied for only after all financial issues have been resolved. After the initial petition, it can take several months to resolve all financial matters.
What causes confusion is that the initial process of divorce does not address the division of marital finances, which is an issue that couples are generally unable to settle. On average, couples who take this matter to court instead of settling it outside of court take more than a year to resolve.
The next step
We specialise in family law and divorce. It is much better for you, and your loved ones, to achieve the best outcome possible for your circumstances. If you need more information on the complex aspects of divorce then contact us on 01983 632006 or email us info@michaelspoors.co.uk.
