If you have reached the decision your marriage is at an end and are looking at commencing divorce proceedings, this can appear to be a stressful and confusing task. However, submitting a Divorce Petition should not be a daunting process.
You will need your original marriage certificate to issue divorce proceedings, as this is required to be submitted to the Court with the Divorce Petition. If you’ve lost your marriage certificate, you can easily obtain a certified copy from the General Register Office.
In order to commence divorce proceedings, you will need to have been married for at least one year, and you will need to rely on one of the following five grounds:-
- Adultery
- Unreasonable behaviour
- Desertion
- Two years separation with your spouses’ consent
- Five years separation without your spouses’ consent
You will, therefore, need to consider which ground you believe is most suitable to your personal circumstances.
If it is possible or appropriate you may wish to discuss with your spouse that you intend to petition for divorce, and on what ground to try to avoid any future disagreement or defended proceedings.
You will then need to complete the D8 Divorce Petition and submit this to your local Divorce Centre, together with your marriage certificate.
We have divorce solicitors in Exeter, Newton Abbot and Teignmouth and we offer a free initial appointment which will cover:
- Identifying the issues;
- Finding the best process for you;
- Selecting the most appropriate member of our experienced family law team to deal with your case;
- The likely costs involved, payment options, including fixed fees, and the timescale for the work.
If you require further information or advice in respect of divorce, or any family matter please contact our family law solicitors in Exeter on 01392 207020 or Newton Abbot on 01626 207020.
