Civil Partnership Dissolution Solicitors
Ending a civil partnership is similar to obtaining a divorce. There are rules that apply and a process that you and your partner will need to go through to end your legal relationship.
At Tayntons Solicitors in Gloucester, we help our clients through the difficult process of separation and legal dissolution of a partnership, advising on related issues such as arrangements for children and financial matters.
We will take the time to understand your unique situation and the issues that are important to you. Wherever possible, we aim to resolve disagreements without litigation, which can help avoid a separation becoming more acrimonious than it needs to be.
Our advice will be clear and practical. We will make sure we are available to answer your questions so that you have a good understanding of the process and what to expect.
For initial advice and to discuss your legal options we offer an initial consultation of up to 45 minutes for a fixed fee of £75 + VAT (£90.00).
Speak to one of our civil partnership dissolution solicitors now by calling 0800 158 4147 or request a call back and a member of our team will be in touch promptly.
Our civil partnership dissolution services
Initiating and responding to civil partnership dissolution proceedings
Whether you will be commencing legal proceedings or responding to proceedings initiated by your partner, we can guide you through the stages and explain all the legal and practical details to you, including the following:
- Drafting and filing your petition for dissolution of your civil partnership
- Responding to a civil partnership dissolution petition
- Applying for a conditional order, which is similar to a decree nisi in divorce
- Applying for a final order, which is similar to a decree absolute in divorce
- Corresponding and negotiating with your partner’s solicitors throughout
Agreeing a civil partnership dissolution financial settlement
Reaching a financial settlement will give you certainty for the next stage of your life. Our team will work to obtain a fair settlement for you that meets your needs and the needs of any children. We are usually able to do this by way of negotiation and agreement, meaning that a court hearing can be avoided.
Our civil partnership dissolution solicitors in Gloucester can assist with the following:
- Division of partnership assets, to include a shared home, savings and investments
- Child maintenance
- Partner maintenance
- Pension sharing
- Division of business interests and other complex assets
Making arrangements for children
Making child arrangements is often the most difficult part of any separation. We will help you reach agreement with your child’s other parent wherever possible so that arrangements can be made that are in your child’s best interests. A good balance of time with each parent can often be agreed upon, with children spending part of the week with each parent.
If an agreement cannot be reached, we can represent you through mediation and, if necessary, at court.
Our services include dealing with the following matters:
- Where your child will live
- What contact a non-resident parent will have with a child
- Agreement over schooling
- Changing a child’s name following the dissolution of a civil partnership
- Taking a child abroad
Representing you in civil partnership dissolution hearings
We are generally able to deal with all of the issues involved in a civil partnership dissolution by way of agreement between the parties. Mediation is available if some points are difficult to agree upon. If an agreement still cannot be reached, we can apply to the court for a decision to be made.
Our Gloucester civil partnership dissolution solicitors can deal with the following matters on your behalf:
- Court proceedings for contested civil partnership dissolution
- Application for a financial order
- Application for a child arrangements order
- Domestic abuse injunctions
Our civil partnership dissolution pricing
We offer a range of pricing structures to match your circumstances, including a fixed-fee civil partnership dissolution package, which costs £375 + VAT plus a court fee of usually £593. This covers the basic work involved in an uncontested civil partnership dissolution, including drafting and filing the dissolution petition and applying for your conditional order and final order.
Common questions about civil partnership dissolution
How long does it take to dissolve a civil partnership in the UK?
Where the dissolution of a civil partnership is uncontested, it can take around six to twelve months to obtain a final order. You may be advised not to apply for a final order until an agreement has been reached over other issues such as finances or arrangements for children, which could mean that the process will take longer.
At Tayntons we work to speed up the process wherever possible by responding promptly to correspondence and filing court documents without delay.
What are the grounds for civil partnership dissolution in the UK?
To obtain the dissolution of a civil partnership, you need to show that the relationship has irretrievably broken down. There are four ways in which this can be demonstrated:
- Unreasonable behaviour, where your partner’s behaviour is such that you can no longer be reasonably expected to live with them;
- You have been separated and lived apart for two years and your partner consents to the dissolution;
- You have been separated and lived apart for five years, where your partner does not consent to the dissolution;
- Your partner deserted you for at least two out of the last two and half years.
Can I get a ‘no fault’ civil partnership dissolution in the UK?
At present, it is not possible to simply agree to dissolve a civil partnership although this is set to change in April 2022 when the new Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act becomes law.
Once the new Act is in force, couples will be able to dissolve a civil partnership without the need for one of them to assign or accept blame or to live apart for a period of time.
How much does a civil partnership dissolution cost?
The costs involved will depend on how much work is needed making arrangements for children and putting a financial settlement in place. If these issues can be agreed fairly easily and without the need for court hearings, then the costs are likely to be substantially lower than they would be if matters were contested.
Why choose Tayntons civil partnership dissolution solicitors?
Our family law team know how emotionally difficult a separation and dissolution can be. We are sensitive and sympathetic, dealing with issues as efficiently as possible to ensure that legal matters are finalised without delay and with a minimum of stress.
We are skilled at non-confrontational dispute resolution, meaning we are often able to help our clients find acceptable solutions to difficult situations without the need for a court hearing. This means a faster resolution as well as reduced costs and less conflict.
All of our civil partnership dissolution solicitors are members of Resolution – an organisation committed to taking a non-confrontational approach to family law. Our family law team is also Law Society accredited for Children Law, reflecting our particular expertise in legal matters involving children.
In addition, Tayntons is home to a Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) accredited Residential Property team, so we are able to offer a reliable, cost-effective service for selling or changing the title on your home or any other property issues related to your divorce.
As a firm, Tayntons has been awarded the Law Society’s Lexcel accreditation reflecting the excellence of our practice management and client care.
Get in touch with our civil partnership solicitors in Gloucester
Looking for help with issues relating to a civil partnership divorce? We act for clients in Gloucester, Cheltenham, the Forest of Dean and across Gloucestershire.
For advice on dissolving a civil partnership, please contact us today by calling 0800 158 4147, emailing us at info@tayntons.co.uk or requesting a call back.