ted by your spouse. The respondent needs to reply to the petition within 29 days, if they wish to defend the case. If your spouse agrees with your decision to divorce, you can mutually agree to terms and conditions surrounding a divorce such as child custody, alimony, etc. These divorce proceedings can be completed within three months and are known as quickie divorces.

However, in case your spouse challenges your decision to divorce, you need to be prepared for a legal battle that could extend for months or eve

So, the laws in a country are a reflection of the faith and acceptance of the people living in that region. The UK has a strict legal system governing various issues including divorce. Let us see in detail the well-defined laws and the legal process involved in divorce cases in the UK.

Filing for Divorce

You need to be married for at least a year before you can apply for divorce. If so, you need to submit a petition citing the grounds on which you would want to seek divorce in a county court or Principal Registry of the Family Division located in London. Along with this, you would also be required to submit a copy of your marriage certificate, court fee, reconciliation statement and statement of Arrangement with the information about the preparation done for the children regarding living, schooling, etc. The person filing for divorce is known as the Petitioner and the spouse whom he is divorcing is known as the Respondent. In case of adultery, the person who is involved in the relationship with the spouse is known as the co-respondent.

Grounds for Divorce

In order to obtain a divorce in the UK, you need to prove in the court of law that your marriage has broken down irretrievably. You can file for your divorce under any one of the following grounds:

1. Spouse has committed adultery.
2. Unreasonable behaviour exhibited by the spouse.
3. Deserted by the spouse for at least two years.
4. Separated from the spouse for at least two years and if either of the couple mutually agrees to divorce.
5. Separated from the spouse for at least five years. In this case, the court can sanction a divorce in the event of the spouse not agreeing for a divorce.

Various Stages in the Divorce Procedure

• Serving the Petition: Once you have filed your petition in the court, they would send a copy to your spouse as well as to the co-respondent if there is one, by post. The process is referred to as serving the petition. Once this is done, much depends upon the course of action to be adopted by your spouse. The respondent needs to reply to the petition within 29 days, if they wish to defend the case. If your spouse agrees with your decision to divorce, you can mutually agree to terms and conditions surrounding a divorce such as child custody, alimony, etc. These divorce proceedings can be completed within three months and are known as quickie divorces.

However, in case your spouse challenges your decision to divorce, you need to be prepared for a legal battle that could extend for months or even

ncipal Registry of the Family Division located in London. Along with this, you would also be required to submit a copy of your marriage certificate, court fee, reconciliation statement and statement of Arrangement with the information about the preparation done for the children regarding living, schooling, etc. The person filing for divorce is known as the Petitioner and the spouse whom he is divorcing is known as the Respondent. In case of adultery, the person who is involved in the relationship with the spouse is known as the co-respondent.

Grounds for Divorce

In order to obtain a divorce in the UK, you need to prove in the court of law that your marriage has broken down irretrievably. You can file for your divorce under any one of the following grounds:

1. Spouse has committed adultery.
2. Unreasonable behaviour exhibited by the spouse.
3. Deserted by the spouse for at least two years.
4. Separated from the spouse for at least two years and if either of the couple mutually agrees to divorce.
5. Separated from the spouse for at least five years. In this case, the court can sanction a divorce in the event of the spouse not agreeing for a divorce.

Various Stages in the Divorce Procedure

• Serving the Petition: Once you have filed your petition in the court, they would send a copy to your spouse as well as to the co-respondent if there is one, by post. The process is referred to as serving the petition. Once this is done, much depends upon the course of action to be adopted by your spouse. The respondent needs to reply to the petition within 29 days, if they wish to defend the case. If your spouse agrees with your decision to divorce, you can mutually agree to terms and conditions surrounding a divorce such as child custody, alimony, etc. These divorce proceedings can be completed within three months and are known as quickie divorces.

However, in case your spouse challenges your decision to divorce, you need to be prepared for a legal battle that could extend for months or eve

nown as the co-respondent.

Grounds for Divorce

In order to obtain a divorce in the UK, you need to prove in the court of law that your marriage has broken down irretrievably. You can file for your divorce under any one of the following grounds:

1. Spouse has committed adultery.
2. Unreasonable behaviour exhibited by the spouse.
3. Deserted by the spouse for at least two years.
4. Separated from the spouse for at least two years and if either of the couple mutually agrees to divorce.
5. Separated from the spouse for at least five years. In this case, the court can sanction a divorce in the event of the spouse not agreeing for a divorce.

Various Stages in the Divorce Procedure

• Serving the Petition: Once you have filed your petition in the court, they would send a copy to your spouse as well as to the co-respondent if there is one, by post. The process is referred to as serving the petition. Once this is done, much depends upon the course of action to be adopted by your spouse. The respondent needs to reply to the petition within 29 days, if they wish to defend the case. If your spouse agrees with your decision to divorce, you can mutually agree to terms and conditions surrounding a divorce such as child custody, alimony, etc. These divorce proceedings can be completed within three months and are known as quickie divorces.

However, in case your spouse challenges your decision to divorce, you need to be prepared for a legal battle that could extend for months or eve

orce.
5. Separated from the spouse for at least five years. In this case, the court can sanction a divorce in the event of the spouse not agreeing for a divorce.

Various Stages in the Divorce Procedure

• Serving the Petition: Once you have filed your petition in the court, they would send a copy to your spouse as well as to the co-respondent if there is one, by post. The process is referred to as serving the petition. Once this is done, much depends upon the course of action to be adopted by your spouse. The respondent needs to reply to the petition within 29 days, if they wish to defend the case. If your spouse agrees with your decision to divorce, you can mutually agree to terms and conditions surrounding a divorce such as child custody, alimony, etc. These divorce proceedings can be completed within three months and are known as quickie divorces.

However, in case your spouse challenges your decision to divorce, you need to be prepared for a legal battle that could extend for months or eve

ted by your spouse. The respondent needs to reply to the petition within 29 days, if they wish to defend the case. If your spouse agrees with your decision to divorce, you can mutually agree to terms and conditions surrounding a divorce such as child custody, alimony, etc. These divorce proceedings can be completed within three months and are known as quickie divorces.

However, in case your spouse challenges your decision to divorce, you need to be prepared for a legal battle that could extend for months or even years. The process can drain you emotionally as well as financially. If you and your spouse are not able to take a mutual decision on child custody or financial arrangement, the court makes a final decision on this.

• Decree Nisi: The petitioner applies for Decree Nisi after the respondent has been served with the petition and they have not challenged the petitioner’s decision to divorce. After about 5 weeks of submitting the application for Decree Nisi, it would be pronounced after the judge reviews all the important information such as the ground for divorce and child custody. The persons involved need not be necessarily present during these proceedings as it would be posted to them.

• Decree Absolute: After 6 weeks and 1 day of receiving Decree Nisi, you can apply for Decree absolute at a price of ?30. This is the final stage in the divorce and the couple are no longer married. In case, the petitioner does not apply for it, it can be obtained by the respondent after a further 3 month-period at a cost of ?30.

Divorce needs to be the final option for a couple. Although it is not a legal requisite, they need to seek professional counselling assistance to try and resolve the problem in the best interests of their children. This can help reduce the soaring divorce rates and help build happy families and healthy societies in our country.