Divorce advice.

[chinadog]

Advice pleeeze, I saw my solicitor 2 weeks ago to start divorce proceedings and also to pay £200 to get my name on the land registry to stop my husband from taking out a mortgage/loan against the house. I had a letter from my solicitor today telling me it's going to cost me £196 and hour for his services! I cant get legal aid so I would lose a substantial amount of my savings. Could I tell my solicitor I want to put the divorce on hold? I think it's 2 years then the marriage would be null and void? Have I got that right? TIa.

[rowanwitch]

No you still have to get a divorce its just easier after two years if it is uncontested

[Pumbah]

Having just completed my own divorce, I can confirm rowanwitch is right. There's no automatic disssolution of a marriage. If you have the requisite grounds (including living apart for 2 years) you can apply for a divorce provided the other partner agrees. If he doesn't it has to be five years. Look at www.direct.gov.uk. They have a section on divorce and links to the Court Service, where you can get details and download the necessary forms. A word of warning, though. "Do-it-yourself" is possible if, as in my case, there are no children to take care of, or propertyor other assets to divide. Unless you can come to an amicable written agreement with your husband you will need legal advice. There are firms who will do it for less than your solicitor - try Googling "divorce".

[chinadog]

Oh thanks for your replies both. My hubby definatley would'nt contest a divorce,he wanted his freedom. Im due to see my solicitor next week and Im telling him I want to leave it for the 2 years. I thought the marriage would automatically be null and void after 2 years, I'm so daft..lol. Thanks once again. I'll look on www. direct pumbah.

[sara3]

chinadog, you can do a divorce yourself for about £400 (just the basic fees). just download the forms, work through them in order and hey presto.. all done.

I did mine myself, it's really not hard work. I'll find a link for you.

[sara3]

it was on the HM Courts site but now it's here.. http://www.direct.gov...ingadivorce/index.htm

[boxtops]

I echo what the others have said - we actually went to a solicitor as we separated, and took out a separation order, to make it clear who was responsible for what during the period we were first apart. That document made the date of the formal separation clear, and meant that two years afterwards, divorce could be filed for on the grounds of the breakdown of the marriage. He didn't contest - but if he had, I would have had to have waited another three years to resubmit the papers. There is no dissolution of the marriage automatically without going through yoru local court process.
Yes it cost for the paperwork, but in the end, it saved a lot of potential problems as everything was clear cut from the day I left.

[JonnyBoy12]

Sorry I can not be of help, but I have heard that the first step to getting divorced is to get married.

[DTCwordfan]

There's an AB rumour going around that your mother divorced you at birth, jonny, any truth in that?

[sara3]

DT.. you're an angry man. don't make me tell you to calm down again!