Divorce and Separation
Divorce services
Divorce and legal separation can be one of the most difficult things to navigate as a family, which is why it’s important to work alongside a compassionate and professional team of divorce solicitors in Liverpool. Divorce can throw up any number of issues including relationship breakdowns, financial arrangements and child support that need to be considered and very often dealt with by the court. Our team of divorce solicitors in Liverpool and Wirral have the expertise and caring approach to handle your divorce proceedings. We’ll be with you throughout the journey to ensure the best possible outcome for your family.
Why choose Morecrofts’ divorce solicitors?
Morecrofts Solicitors are members of Resolution and believe that it is in all parties’ interests to try and minimise the animosity and distress that can be an inevitable part of any family breakdown. We have a number of divorce lawyers within the firm who are not only trained mediators but collaborative lawyers as well. We work hard to ensure you receive the best possible advice and assistance in achieving the outcome you want.
Legal aid and financial help for divorce and separation
We understand how worrying legal costs can be, so our team of divorce lawyers in Liverpool offer a range of payment options to suit your budget and needs. We offer fixed fee-packages alongside our traditional fee system. We will always work with you to decide which is best for you and your family. If we feel that you are eligible for legal aid we can also offer assistance in this area. We have close ties with the Legal Aid Agency and can grant legal aid immediately if necessary.
Contact our divorce solicitors today
To find out more or to speak to a divorce solicitor in Liverpool, call 0151 236 8871, email us at info@morecrofts.co.uk or use our contact form below.
The Civil Partnership Act 2004 enabled couples in same sex relationships to enter into a form of marriage and register their relationship in a Civil Ceremony.
The effect of entering into a Civil Partnership is very similar to the effect of entering into a marriage. The Civil Partnership imposes upon the couple a legal status which brings with it various rights and obligations to include financial obligations.
A separation agreement is a legal document drawn up between two people to help outline responsibilities around some of the following:
- The mortgage, rent or household bills
- Who is entitled to live in the family home and what happens if it is sold
- Details surrounding debts, loans and overdrafts
- Who is entitled to savings and any other major assets such as cars
- Who is responsible for maintenance support
- Childcare details including who has access to the children and who they live with
Separation agreements are useful to have as they are often used to help clarify responsibilities prior to a divorce being finalised or agreed upon. There are quite a few instances where separation agreements are needed. For example, there may be religious objections to a legal separation carried out through a court process.
A consent order is a legal document that confirms your agreement. It explains how you’re going to divide up assets such as: pensions, property and savings.
When drafting a financial agreement as part of your consent order, our expert Family Law solicitors have a proven track record in securing appropriate financial provision for our clients and their families. We work to ensure that your financial arrangements are practical, sustainable and understandable. We can assure you that with our help, the outcome of your situation will be in the best interest of your family – especially if children are involved.
We understand that legal fees can be daunting, which is why we offer fixed-fee legal packages alongside our traditional fee system to help you afford the best quality service possible. We will also assess whether you are eligible for Legal Aid. If you require Legal Aid immediately, we can grant it if necessary.
How much does a divorce cost?
For a straightforward divorce which is now usually the case following the introduction of the “no fault” divorce procedure in April 2022, we charge a fixed fee of between £500 and £750 plus VAT plus the Court issue fee that is currently £593.
The size of the fixed free depends on whether we are also instructed to deal with financial matters.
How long does a divorce take?
After the Divorce Application has been issued it will take just over six months to complete the divorce process.
This is because after the Application has been issued there is a twenty week holding period before the Applicant (or the parties in the case of a joint Divorce Application) can apply for the Conditional Order (formerly known as the Decree Nisi) which is the first stage of the divorce order.
After the Court has considered the Application for the Conditional Order a short Hearing will be listed when the Conditional Order will be granted by a District Judge. If there are no issues in dispute there is no need for either party to attend the Hearing when the Conditional Order is granted. However, there will be a delay of a few weeks between the Application for the Conditional Order being submitted and the Hearing when the Conditional Order is granted.
Once six weeks and one day have elapsed following the granting of the Conditional Order the Applicant (or the parties in the case of a joint Divorce Application) can apply for the Final Order (formerly known as the Decree Absolute) that ends the marriage.
Following the granting of the Final Order the parties will no longer be next of kin which can for example have implications for inheritance and pension rights. This is why we generally advise that the Application for the Final Order should be delayed until after financial matters have been dealt with.
How to file for a divorce?
Divorce proceedings are issued by submitting the Divorce Application along with an image of the marriage certificate and the Court issue fee electronically through a Portal