Divorce Solicitors in Gloucester
Divorce can be extremely difficult for everyone involved, often resulting in a lot of confusion and conflict that can be expensive and time-consuming to resolve. Having the right legal advice and support can make things much easier, however, allowing you to have a more harmonious divorce that moves ahead faster and costs you less.
Tayntons’ divorce solicitors, based in Gloucester, have many years of experiencing helping people to navigate all of the issues surrounding divorce and relationship breakdown. With strong expertise in negotiated solutions and taking a collaborative approach to divorce, we can help you keep conflict to a minimum while achieving an outcome that works for you and your loved ones.
We understand how important good communication is to making the divorce process as simple and stress-free as possible, so will take the time to understand your circumstances, as well as any specific concerns and goals you have. We will then talk you through your options in plain English, giving you complete confidence when deciding how to move forward with your divorce.
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 divorce solicitors now by calling 0800 158 4147 or request a call back and a member of our team will be in touch promptly.
Our divorce law services
We offer a wide range of legal services for divorce and family separation in Gloucester, Cheltenham, the Forest of Dean and throughout Gloucestershire.
Our divorce lawyers can assist you with:
Initiating & responding to divorce proceedings
Whether you need to start divorce proceedings or respond to proceedings initiated by your spouse, we can guide you through all of the legal and practical details you need to consider and the paperwork you need to complete.
We can assist with matters including:
- Correspondence with your spouse/their solicitors
- Drafting and filing your divorce petition
- Responding to a divorce petition
- Applying for a Decree Nisi
- Applying for a Decree Absolute
Making a financial settlement
Making a financial settlement on divorce is crucial for allowing you to make a clean break and get on with starting the next phase of your life. Our team can help you get a fair settlement that meets your needs and the needs of any children or other dependents you have, usually without the need for court proceedings.
Our divorce solicitors in Gloucester can assist with matters including:
- Division of marital assets, including your family home, savings and investments
- Child maintenance
- Spousal maintenance
- Pension entitlements
- Business interests & other complex assets
Making arrangements for children
Deciding how you will share your children’s care is often the most emotionally challenging part of a divorce, but increasingly parents can achieve a positive balance where children spend part of the week with each parent. Wherever possible, we will help you agree on arrangements for your children voluntary, but we can assist with court proceedings where needed.
Our team can help you with matters including:
- Where children will live
- What contact a non-resident parent will have with children
- Schooling arrangements
- Changing children’s surnames following divorce
- Taking children abroad following divorce
Representing you in divorce hearings
While most divorces can be resolved through an amicable agreement between the separating couple, in some cases it is necessary to apply to a divorce court for help. Our team are highly experienced with divorce court proceedings, so can make sure you have effective representation and close personal support every step of the way.
Our Gloucester divorce lawyers can help with matters including:
- Court proceedings for contested divorces
- Applying for a Financial Order
- Applying for a Child Arrangements Order
- Domestic abuse injunctions
We can also offer bespoke advice and support for any other issues related to your divorce, helping you to achieve a clean break that allows you to move on with your life as smoothly as possible.
Common questions about divorce
How long does it take to get a divorce in the UK?
There is no set time frame for how long a divorce will take as it entirely depends on the circumstances. In general, most divorces can be finalised in around 6-12 months, but it can take longer, especially where there is conflict over issues such as making a financial settlement or arrangements for children.
A good divorce lawyer can typically speed up the process, for example by making sure your divorce petition is drafted and filed promptly, effectively corresponding with your spouse and their lawyers, and promptly applying for the Decree Nisi and Decree Absolute.
What are the grounds for divorce in the UK?
Under current UK law, there is only one ground for divorce – that your marriage has permanently broken down. In your divorce petition, you will need to cite one of 5 reasons why this has occurred in order for your divorce to be granted:
- Adultery – Where your spouse has been unfaithful with someone of the opposite sex. Same-sex infidelity is not currently classed as adultery and instead falls under ‘unreasonable behaviour’.
- Unreasonable Behaviour – Where your spouse has behaved in such a way you can no longer reasonably be expected to live with them. This covers a wide range of issues, including your spouse spending too much time with friends or at work, as well as more serious issues, such as alcoholism, drug use and domestic abuse.
- Desertion – Where your spouse has left you for at least 2 years out of the last 2.5 years without good reason, without your consent and with the intention to end your relationship.
- Separation for at least 2 years – Where your spouse consents to the divorce.
- Separation for at least 5 years – Whether your spouse consents to the divorce or not.
Can I get a ‘no fault’ divorce in the UK?
Currently, there is no provision in English law for no-fault divorce i.e. where a couple can simply agree that they no longer wish to be married and get a divorce on that basis. However, this is set to change following the introduction of the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill to parliament in January 2020.
If passed, this bill will introduce no-fault divorce in England and Wales, meaning couples will be able to get divorced without the need for either party to assign or accept blame. This is likely to make divorce much simpler and reduce the likelihood of conflict for most couples.
How much does a divorce cost?
This will depend on the circumstances, including whether you need help making a financial settlement or arrangements for children. Should you need help with these issues, the costs involved will also depend on whether you can reach a voluntary agreement with your spouse or whether you need to apply to a divorce court for a decision.
Generally, divorce is much less expensive if you can reach a voluntary agreement as the legal fees involved are typically significantly lower than those associated with court proceedings.
Why choose Tayntons divorce solicitors?
Our divorce lawyers know how sensitive and challenging divorce and family separation can be, so we offer a friendly, empathetic but highly practical approach, designed to make navigating these issues as straightforward and stress-free as we can.
We are highly skilled in non-confrontational dispute resolution, meaning we are normally able to unpick the issues surrounding divorce and find amicable solutions that work for you without the need for court action. As a result, we can help you get divorced faster and at a lower cost while keeping conflict to a minimum.
All of our divorce solicitors are members of Resolution – an organisation committed to taking a non-confrontational approach to family law. Our family law team is Law Society accredited for Children Law, reflecting our particular expertise in legal matters involving children.
Tayntons is also home to a Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) accredited residential property team, meaning we can provide 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 divorce solicitors in Gloucester
Looking for help with any aspect of divorce in Gloucester, Cheltenham, the Forest of Dean or anywhere in Gloucestershire?
Please contact us today by calling 0800 158 4147, emailing us at info@tayntons.co.uk or requesting a call back.