Civil partnership dissolution solicitors
What is a civil partnership dissolution?
Step-by-step guide to dissolving your civil partnership
Step 1: Eligibility check
You cannot dissolve your civil partnership for at least one year after you entered into the partnership. After a year, as with divorce, you can apply for dissolution on a no-fault basis.
Step 2: Apply to dissolve the civil partnership
A single partner or both partners jointly can apply to the courts to dissolve the civil partnership. This application details grounds for dissolution and jurisdictional specifications.
Step 3: Respond to the petition
The partner receiving the dissolution application will be required to formulate a response to agree or contest the dissolution within 14 days.
Step 4: Apply for a Conditional Order
Once you and your partner have reached an agreement, you can apply for a Conditional Order after a 20-week waiting period. This is a legal document that confirms the court has accepted your application for civil partnership dissolution. But this does not confirm that your partnership has been dissolved. You must wait six weeks and one day before applying for a Final Order. It is during these six weeks that access to legal advice and support is particularly important, especially if your partner chooses to challenge the dissolution.
Step 5: Apply for a Final Order
After six weeks and one day following your Conditional Order, you can apply for a Final Order to dissolve your civil partnership. The court will issue the Final Order, which confirms your civil partnership has legally ended.
Supporting you from beginning to end
It is essential that all your financial matters are resolved before you apply to finalise the dissolution of your civil partnership. Once you have the Conditional Order, there is a waiting period of six weeks and one day before you can apply for a Final Order.
During this time, your partner may choose to challenge the dissolution which is why it is paramount that you have the right legal team behind you to advise and support you during this process. Financial arrangements to consider include:
- Money - savings and investments
- Property - the family home and any other property you may own
- Cars, artwork, jewellery and other assets
- Pensions
- Life insurance
- Businesses interests
- Trust interests
- Debts, loans and credit cards
Child arrangements
It is also vital to agree arrangements for any children before finalising the dissolution of your civil partnership. These include:
- Living arrangements
- Access arrangements
- Child support/maintenance
If you and your partner cannot agree on child arrangements, you may need to apply for a Child Arrangement Order.
Learn how we can support you with child arrangements.
Why choose Hamblin Family Law for your civil partnership dissolution?
- We will give you the knowledge and support you need to tackle any difficulties around child and financial arrangements.
- We always bring expertise, care and honesty into the guidance we give you.
- We understand that every case is unique and treat each one with the utmost care and attention it deserves.
- We offer a fixed fee plan for all our civil partnership dissolution services.
