A This depends on many factors however a straightforward divorce will take around six  to nine months. It can however take as little as four months but may take longer if one party fails to cooperate or if the parties are in dispute over children or money.

Q Can I divorce without using a solicitor?

A Yes. You can obtain the appropriate forms from the county court or down load them from the court service website but it is not advisable if there is money or property to deal with or if there are disagreements over children. It may prove more costly in the end than taking legal advice. You may also run into problems if your spouse refuses to cooperate.

Q Will I be eligible for Legal Aid?

A Provided your case is the type that funding is available for and most family matters do qualify it depends on your financial circumstances. You will automatically qualify financially if you are in receipt of income support, income based job seekers allowance or guaranteed pension credit. You may qualify if you are on a low income and your savings do not exceed £8,000. We will be happy to advise you in more detail alternatively you can check on the Legal Services Commission Website.

Q What are disbursements?

A  Disbursements are court fees, process server’s fees, expert report fees etc. These are fees or expenses which are paid to other people during your case. They do not form part of our costs and are items over which we have no control.

Q What will a divorce cost?

A It depends whether you are the petitioner or the respondent but in all divorces (unless you are fees exempt) court fees are payable. There is a petition fee of £300 and a further court fee of £40 to obtain the decree absolute. These fees will be payable even if you deal with the divorce your self. How much our costs are on top of this depends on how cooperative your spouse is but they will normally be between £500 and £700.

It is possible to share the costs with your spouse or sometimes to obtain an order that they pay your costs. We will advise you about this. We will always keep you informed about your costs.

Q Will I have to go to court?

A It is very unlikely that you will have to go to court in connection with your divorce proceedings as these are normally dealt with by the court on a paperwork basis. It is more likely that you will have to go to court if you have a dispute over money or your children but even then the majority of cases can be settled by negotiation without you needing to go to court.

Q What should I do if my partner assaults me?

A You should always contact the police first of all as assault is a criminal offence. Then make sure you visit the hospital or your doctor for any treatment you require.