Divorce Journey (No-Fault, England & Wales)
The full divorce process under the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020: application, 20-week reflection, Conditional Order, Final Order, and financial remedy.
Who Uses This Journey
Spouses (or civil partners under parallel dissolution provisions) seeking to end their marriage in England and Wales. The 2020 Act came into force on 6 April 2022 — no-fault, online, no defending.
Stage-by-Stage Timeline
Eligibility check
Married at least 1 year; either party domiciled in or habitually resident in E&W for at least 12 months; marriage validly registered and recognised in E&W.
- Forgetting to check the 1-year minimum
Sole or joint application
Decide between a sole application (you alone) or joint application (both of you). Joint is smoother where there is agreement; sole is often necessary where there is conflict.
- Joint application then one party loses contact — falls back to sole
Apply online
Apply at apply-for-divorce.service.gov.uk. Upload marriage certificate scan. Pay £628 (or fee remission via EX160A).
Acknowledgement of service
In a sole application, the respondent has 14 days to acknowledge service. They cannot defend on the merits. In a joint application, both parties acknowledge automatically.
20-week reflection period
Mandatory cooling-off between application and Conditional Order application. Use this time to negotiate finances and arrangements for children.
Conditional Order
Apply for the Conditional Order (formerly Decree Nisi). The court declares you are entitled to a divorce. Usually granted without a hearing.
Financial Consent Order (if any)
If finances are agreed, draft a Consent Order and submit before applying for Final Order. The court reviews and approves. Without an Order, financial claims remain open even after Final Order.
- Applying for Final Order before sorting finances — this can extinguish important rights (e.g. surviving spouse pension)
Final Order
At least 6 weeks and 1 day after the Conditional Order, apply for the Final Order (formerly Decree Absolute). This legally ends the marriage.
Official Sources
Related Guides
Frequently asked questions
- How long does the no-fault divorce process take in England and Wales?
- The divorce process itself typically takes between six and nine months. This timeline includes the mandatory 20-week reflection period and the minimum six weeks and one day required between the Conditional Order and the Final Order. However, if financial matters are not resolved, the financial remedy process can take an additional 12 to 24 months.
- What are the eligibility requirements for applying for a no-fault divorce?
- To apply, you must have been married for at least one year. Additionally, either you or your spouse must be domiciled in, or habitually resident in, England and Wales for at least 12 months. Your marriage must also be validly registered and recognised in England and Wales. The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 came into force on 6 April 2022.
- What is the difference between a sole and a joint divorce application?
- You can submit a sole application if you are applying alone, or a joint application if both parties agree. Joint applications are generally smoother where there is agreement, while sole applications are often necessary in cases of conflict. In a sole application, the respondent has 14 days to acknowledge service but cannot defend the divorce on its merits. In a joint application, both parties acknowledge service automatically.
- What is the 20-week reflection period and why is it required?
- The mandatory reflection period is a 20-week cooling-off period that occurs between the initial application and the application for the Conditional Order. This time is intended to allow parties to negotiate financial arrangements and make decisions regarding children. You must wait until this 20-week minimum period has elapsed before you can apply for the Conditional Order.
- How should I handle financial agreements during the divorce process?
- If you have agreed on financial matters, you should draft and submit a Consent Order to the court before applying for the Final Order. The court will review and approve this order. It is critical to complete this step before the Final Order is granted; otherwise, financial claims remain open, and applying for the Final Order without an order can extinguish important rights, such as a surviving spouse's pension rights.
- When can I apply for the Final Order to end my marriage?
- You must apply for the Final Order, formerly known as the Decree Absolute, at least six weeks and one day after the Conditional Order is granted. The Conditional Order, formerly the Decree Nisi, declares that you are entitled to a divorce and is usually granted without a hearing. The Final Order legally ends the marriage.