How long does divorce take in England and Wales?
The short answer: a divorce in England and Wales takes a minimum of 26 weeks from the date the court issues your application. In practice, most divorces take between seven and twelve months, and if finances or arrangements for children are disputed, it can run to eighteen months or more.
The good news is that much of the timeline is predictable, and many delays are avoidable. Here's how it breaks down.
No fault divorce
Since April 2022, divorce in England and Wales has operated under a no-fault system. You no longer need to prove adultery or unreasonable behaviour; nor do you have to rely on a minimum period of separation. You simply confirm the marriage has broken down irretrievably. It is no longer possible to defend divorce proceedings.
Why most divorces take at least 26 weeks: time for reflection:
The 20-week reflection period. This starts when the court issues your application. It can only be shortened in truly exceptional circumstances. At the end of this period, you can apply for your Conditional Order (which replaces the old Decree Nisi).
Six weeks and one day. Once the Conditional Order is granted, you must wait a further six weeks and one day before applying for the Final Order, which legally ends the marriage.
The legal process has clear stages and knowing these can help you feel more assured about the process. Please note that the time periods in the table below are approximate.
Stage | Timing |
Application submitted and issued by the court | 1 to 2 weeks |
Acknowledgement of service (sole applications only) | Up to 14 days |
Reflection period | 20 weeks |
Conditional Order applied for and granted | 2 to 6 weeks |
Mandatory wait | 6 weeks and 1 day |
Final Order | 1 to 2 weeks |
That covers the divorce process. Recent court statistics show a national average of about 40 weeks from application to Final Order. Straightforward, cooperative cases usually complete in closer to seven months.
What slows a divorce down
Unresolved finances - This is the single biggest cause of delay, and it deserves its own section below.
A slow or unresponsive spouse - In a sole application, your spouse has 14 days to acknowledge service. If they don't, you may need to arrange personal service or apply for alternative service, which adds weeks.
Errors in the application - Incorrect names, missing marriage certificates, mismatched details. The court rejects the application, and you go to the back of the queue.
Court backlogs - Processing times vary by period and workload. Digital applications move faster than paper ones, and joint applications tend to move faster than sole ones because there's no acknowledgement stage.
International elements - If your spouse lives abroad or there is a dispute about which country should handle the divorce, the process will take longer.
Your divorce doesn't settle your finances
This is the most important thing to understand. The Final Order ends your marriage. It does not end the financial claims you and your former spouse can make against each other.
Unless you have a financial order approved by the court, either one of you can bring a claim years, even decades, after the divorce. The courts have allowed claims against ex-spouses long after the Final Order.
This is why family solicitors routinely advise against applying for the Final Order until finances are resolved. There can also be other reasons to wait - finalising the divorce before a financial settlement can affect pension rights and what happens if one of you dies in the meantime.
Rather than asking how long a divorce takes, we encourage clients to consider how long it will take for everything to be properly resolved.
It is important to start the financial negotiations as soon as possible so that, if you are able to reach settlement terms, a consent order can be submitted to the court as soon as there is a Conditional Order in place. If property and financial matters are disputed, this could add significantly to the time it takes to conclude the divorce.
How to keep your divorce moving
Apply jointly if you can. It removes the acknowledgement stage and starts things on a cooperative footing.
Start the financial conversation early. You can use the 20-week reflection period to gather all your financial documents, exchange financial disclosure and begin negotiating, so a consent order is ready when the Conditional Order is granted.
Get the paperwork right the first time. This removes unnecessary admin and speeds things up - a rejected application costs weeks.
Consider mediation for disputes. Where you and your spouse disagree on finances or arrangements for children, mediation is usually faster and considerably cheaper than court proceedings. At Orwins, we offer mediation services.
Take advice before applying for the Final Order. A conversation with a solicitor before that final step can protect you from financial vulnerabilities.
Speak to our family team.
Every divorce has its own shape, and the right timeline for you depends on your circumstances, your finances, and how much you and your spouse agree on. Our family law team advises on divorce, financial settlements, and arrangements for children from our offices in London, Manchester and Reading. Speak to the family team to discuss your specific circumstances.
