Divorced in the UK: All the Legal Hurdles in Your Way Explained

It doesn’t matter whether you’re being divorced in the UK or somewhere else—divorce is always an ugly matter. Add children to the mix, and it gets uglier. Everything from property to custody becomes moot, and the smallest things become the bones of contention between former lovebirds.

Although the divorce rate for heterosexual couples is falling in England and elsewhere, it’s still a solid 7.5 divorces for 1,000 couples. Not a big number, but if you’re among the 7.5%, get a divorce lawyer on your side right away.

Blame Games

When you’re married, your spouse blames you for things like drinking straight from the bottle and leaving taps open. When you’re getting a divorce, they blame you for destroying their life and being an unreasonable person to live with. In fact, these blame games get so ugly that the UK had to overhaul divorce laws to ensure couples were distancing faster and with lesser acrimony.

The Fault Lines

There has been some criticism directed at the divorce laws in the UK, which previously demanded that a spouse confirm:

• Adultery
• Unreasonable behaviour
• Desertion
• Separation

Those laws are now changing so that two people who no longer like each other are not forced to face each other until the proceedings start. Under the new rules, all you have to do is say that the marriage no longer holds up. There can still be some legal hurdles on the way, which is what you need to prepared for.

Unjust Rulings

It sounds easy on paper but look at the case of a 68-year-old Englishwoman, Tini Owens. Wanting a divorce on the grounds that she was “unhappy,” Owens took the matter to court. The husband refused to settle for a split—and the Supreme Court agreed. This was one of the more high-profile cases that caught media attention, evoking horror, and speculation on whether the courts could make Tini Owens love her husband. A court is hardly a place for courtship, although you might be forced to reckon with this nasty fact.

Divorce Lawyers Can Help

To ensure that you aren’t forced to live with a spouse you don’t like, get a divorce lawyer on your side from the start. UK laws can be ruthless, but professional legal help can cut down on the heat and provide solutions. Get in touch today.