Is There Such a Thing as a Quickie Divorce?
In short, the answer is no.
We often hear the phrase quickie divorce used by the media which gives the impression that the rich and famous have the ability to divorce in seconds, rather than months. An example of this was a report that singer, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, was granted a divorce in only 14 seconds.
This is a myth and what the media are in fact reporting is the time taken by the Judge to order the Decree Nisi. The Decree Nisi does not end the marriage but is the order confirming the entitlement to the divorce. The Decree Absolute which ends the marriage, cannot be applied for until six weeks and one day after the Decree Nisi, unless there are exceptional circumstances.
What the media fail to report is the process of the divorce. This process, which involves a number of stages, takes approximately four to six months to complete and can take longer if there are complications, court delays or financial matters to resolve.
It is also important to remember that there is more than just the divorce process to consider. More often than not married couples will have financial assets together and decisions will need to be made as to what will happen with these. The Decree Absolute that ends the marriage does not end the financial relationship between the parties and therefore it is important to take advice from a solicitor regarding this. Even where the parties have reached an agreement or they do not have any matrimonial assets, parties should still take legal advice as, without applying for a consent order, their financial relationship remains open.
Lawson-West has an expert team in all areas of Family Law. We are available to see you at our Wigston, Market Harborough and Leicester branches, and also offer Saturday appointments on the 4th Saturday of every month. Our Wigston branch opens from 11am – 1pm allowing you to receive complimentary no obligation advice. Please call 0116 212 1080 / 01858 445 480 or 0116 212 1000 to book an appointment.
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