As specialists in family law, the team at Alun Jones Family Law is well-equipped to guide you through the process of ending your civil partnership. We offer expert advice and support at every step, helping to create an amicable dissolution.
We have successfully guided numerous clients to achieve an amicable dissolution of their civil partnerships.
This article will help answer some of the more commonly asked questions regarding how to end and dissolve a civil partnership.
Divorce Dissolution and Separation Act (DDSA) 2020
The Divorce Dissolution and Separation Act (DDSA) 2020 legislation guides family lawyers throughout the separation process.
The legislation states, for example, that the couple must have been within a civil partnership for at least one year prior to a dissolution.
Yet rather than relying on one of four fault grounds to state why the relationship has broken down, now you can submit a simple statement explaining why the civil partnership has broken down.
The civil partnership and divorce process have undergone significant changes in recent years, transitioning from a fault-based system to a more amicable and less acrimonious approach. This shift is a positive development in family law, reflecting the efforts of many family law practices and mediation professionals who have long campaigned for this change.
How do you apply for the dissolution of a civil partnership?
Many couples start the process by applying to the family courts. The application can be completed jointly, or one partner can initiate the process alone.
If just one applicant has submitted a request to the courts to dissolve the civil partnership, the document must be forwarded to the other party.
The recipient of the application is referred to as the 'respondent '. Upon receiving the application, the respondent has 14 days to acknowledge its receipt, marking the beginning of their involvement in the dissolution process.
Where do you apply for the dissolution of a civil partnership?
An application can be submitted online on the UK government's website. However, you must remember that this is just a procedural side of ending the civil partnership.
Often, disagreements will be present over various issues when requesting to dissolve a civil partnership.
For example, a dispute could be over jointly held property or other financial matters. These disputes must be worked through, and a resolution must be found before the civil partnership is dissolved.
What is a conditional order?
When the family courts have received the application and subsequently approved it, this is known as granting a “conditional order.” At this point, the family courts will issue a certificate known as the “certificate of entitlement” for the dissolution of the civil partnership to proceed.
The Final Order
The last stage of ending a civil partnership is the “Final Order”. At this stage, you must wait at least six weeks after the conditional order has been granted before applying for a final order to be given.
I want to end my civil partnership in the shortest time frame possible. How long will it take?
Dissolving a civil partnership has set intervals built into the process that cannot be accelerated. This means a separated couple cannot proceed to the next stage until a set time frame has passed.
For example, it can take at least 9 to 12 months to obtain the dissolution of the civil partnership. For the civil partnership to proceed in the shortest amount of time, there needs to be clear agreement from both sides that they want the dissolution to occur. This means if one side contests the dissolution, the process will take much longer.
This also presumes no disagreements are present over matters relating to finances, for example.
However, forming an agreement can take significantly longer if there are disagreements.
It's important to remember that disagreements are often part of the process. This is why seeking expert legal representation from the outset is crucial. Our team is here to help you navigate these disagreements and work towards a fair and amicable settlement.
How we can help you
We have helped many couples to find an amicable resolution while ending their civil partnership.
Contact our expert team today if you require further help and advice.
