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Here at Quickie Divorce, we appreciate that the process of divorce can seem quite daunting from the outset, which is why we have developed what we believe to be the simplest, quickest and best quality divorce solutions in the UK. We aim to provide as much support as possible, thus to help with the understanding of the terms that you may encounter during your divorce we have created a “Jargon Buster”! If you have encountered any “Jargon” you are unsure of, comment below and we will happily “bust”.

  A-Z of useful Divorce terms.   Adultery – The act of a married person entering voluntarily into a sexual relationship with another person that is not their spouse, despite the marriage still being in existence. Could be used for grounds for a divorce.   Clean Break – A financial agreement that means once divorced, the husband and wife will no longer be able to make any financial claims against each other. This is recommended by Quickie Divorce, as it protects finance one may gain in the future, such as inheritance .   Consent Order- An order made by court, that gives effect to the terms agreed between the husband and wife. This order is only made if the court agrees this provides reasonable provision for both parties, and any children involved.   Contested – When spouses cannot come to agreement regarding one or more of their divorce aspects. These aspects can include division of assets, custody of children etc. See “Uncontested” for the synonym.   Co-respondent- The person with whom the respondent has allegedly committed adultery with. Refers to someone that could be called upon to answer in some way.   Court Fees- The fees that are incurred when one starts the proceedings of a divorce. They currently stand at £340, plus £45 for obtaining your Decree Absolute. However, if you are on a low income, you may get financial assistance with your court fees, and to do this you need to complete a fee exemption form.   Decree Nisi- A degree that becomes issued on a first petition. It then becomes a Decree Absolute at a later date. It takes 6 weeks and 1 day, before you can apply for a Decree Absolute, so to give people a chance to object to the divorce.   Decree Absolute- This is the final decree in divorce proceedings which leaves the parties free to remarry. One can get a Decree Absolute by sending a “ Notice of Application for Decree Nisi to be made Absolute Form” to the court.   Desertion – When one partner is deserted by the other over two years ago. It differs from separation as one of the partners did not consent to this. To divorce on the grounds of desertion is not recommended, but if you choose to proceed on this ground you may require a managed divorce.   Marriage Certificate- The certificate to prove that a couple have undertaken a marriage ceremony. It is required to apply for a divorce so that people don't apply for a divorce of a marriage that can't be proven to exist.   Petition- The document which is used to apply for a divorce. It states that the marriage has broken down irretrievably, for one of five reasons. These are; Adultery, Separation for 2 years (with consent), Separation for 5 years, Unreasonable Behaviour and Desertion.   Petitioner – The person who applies for the divorce.   Pre-nuptial Agreement- An agreement made between the spouses before the marriage, regarding how assets shall be divided if the marriage were to fail. These agreements are common in marriages where either party has a high level of assets, or children.   Respondent- The spouse, that didn't apply for the divorce, upon whom the divorce proceedings are served.   Uncontested - When both spouses agree on their divorce related issues. Due to the amicable nature of this divorce, and the lack of constant negotiations, money can be saved on legal fees. It is uncontested divorces that Quickie Divorce works with.   Undertaking - The promise of one party to another to do something that the Court has no power to make them do, e.g. pay off a mortgage.   Unreasonable Behaviour- A grounds for divorce. When the respondent has behaved in such a way that the petitioner cannot reasonably be expected to have to live with the respondent. Behaviours can include abuse (verbal and physical), refusal to communicate, and refusing to sleep in the same room. You need at least five examples.    

EDIT: At time of edit, in 2018, court fees have risen again to £550

In addition to the recent cuts in legal aid, couples wishing to divorce now have a further reason to review their finances. From Monday 1st July, the cost of Family Court Fees for divorce are rising from £340 to £410. This dramatic change in price is applicable to all the courts in England and Wales and is a non negotiable cost.

The good news however, is that the cost of the Decree Absolute is now included, thus after paying the £410 there are no additional costs, as there were once before. Nevertheless, there is still an overall increase of £25 in cost for the process. This may put additional pressure on couples looking to divorce, as they may have to raise additional funds earlier on in their divorce proceedings, rather than paying in two installments.

There is a concern that the concept of increasing costs may deter unhappy couples from looking into a divorce solution. Even though Quickie Divorce would never encourage someone to get a divorce without full consideration, we aim to provide a range of cost effective divorce solutions, that start from a mere £37.This in turn makes the process much more simple, effective, and affordable... Despite the rises in Family Court Fees.

To discuss your own personal case, call us now on 0800 8030813, or visit https://www.quickie-divorce.com and see how we can help you.

Here at Quickie Divorce, we appreciate that the process of divorce can seem quite daunting from the outset, which is why we have developed what we believe to be the simplest, quickest and best quality divorce solutions in the UK. We aim to provide as much support as possible, thus to help with the understanding of the terms that you may encounter during your divorce we have created a 'Jargon Buster'! If you have encountered any “Jargon” you are unsure of, comment below and we will happily 'bust.'

  A-Z of useful Divorce terms.   Adultery – The act of a married person entering voluntarily into a sexual relationship with another person that is not their spouse, despite the marriage still being in existence. Could be used for grounds for a divorce.   Clean Break – A financial agreement that means once divorced, the husband and wife will no longer be able to make any financial claims against each other. This is recommended by Quickie Divorce, as it protects finance one may gain in the future, such as inheritance .   Consent Order- An order made by court, that gives effect to the terms agreed between the husband and wife. This order is only made if the court agrees this provides reasonable provision for both parties, and any children involved.   Contested – When spouses cannot come to agreement regarding one or more of their divorce aspects. These aspects can include division of assets, custody of children etc. See “Uncontested” for the antonym.   Co-respondent- The person with whom the respondent has allegedly committed adultery with. Refers to someone that could be called upon to answer in some way.   Court Fees- The fees that are incurred when one starts the proceedings of a divorce. They currently stand at £340, plus £45 for obtaining your Decree Absolute. However, if you are on a low income, you may get financial assistance with your court fees, and to do this you need to complete a fee exemption form.   Decree Nisi- A degree that becomes issued on a first petition. It then becomes a Decree Absolute at a later date. It takes 6 weeks and 1 day, before you can apply for a Decree Absolute, so to give people a chance to object to the divorce.   Decree Absolute- This is the final decree in divorce proceedings which leaves the parties free to remarry. One can get a Decree Absolute by sending a “ Notice of Application for Decree Nisi to be made Absolute Form” to the court.   Desertion – When one partner is deserted by the other over two years ago. It differs from separation as one of the partners did not consent to this. To divorce on the grounds of desertion is not recommended, but if you choose to proceed on this ground you may require a managed divorce.   Marriage Certificate- The certificate to prove that a couple have undertaken a marriage ceremony. It is required to apply for a divorce so that people don't apply for a divorce of a marriage that can't be proven to exist.   Petition- The document which is used to apply for a divorce. It states that the marriage has broken down irretrievably, for one of five reasons. These are; Adultery, Separation for 2 years (with consent), Separation for 5 years, Unreasonable Behaviour and Desertion.   Petitioner – The person who applies for the divorce.   Pre-nuptial Agreement- An agreement made between the spouses before the marriage, regarding how assets shall be divided if the marriage were to fail. These agreements are common in marriages where either party has a high level of assets, or children.   Respondent- The spouse, that didn't apply for the divorce, upon whom the divorce proceedings are served.   Uncontested - When both spouses agree on their divorce related issues. Due to the amicable nature of this divorce, and the lack of constant negotiations, money can be saved on legal fees. It is uncontested divorces that Quickie Divorce works with.   Undertaking - The promise of one party to another to do something that the Court has no power to make them do, e.g. pay off a mortgage.   Unreasonable Behaviour- A grounds for divorce. When the respondent has behaved in such a way that the petitioner cannot reasonably be expected to have to live with the respondent. Behaviours can include abuse (verbal and physical), refusal to communicate, and refusing to sleep in the same room. You need at least five examples

Have you ever looked at your partner and questioned whether or not they are telling the truth? Most of us have had a slight niggle of doubt, but is it unjustified?   Deception is an everyday occurrence, with numerous studies showing its prominent usage to be a facilitator in communication. For example the usage of “white lies” can maintain and create relationships, be it a tactful reply, or just an exaggeration of the truth to gain respect. However, when lies have more salience, if detected they can indeed be the cause of relationship breakdown and divorce. A recent study found that 83% of people in a relationship believe that they would easily be able to tell if their partner is lying, but interestingly this may not be the case. It is a skill to detect deception, and people are likely to over estimate their ability at doing so. Here is some interesting information on how to detect a deceiver.   It depends on who the deceiver is. As lying causes a conflict of emotions, both guilt and desire to lie, it has effects on our behaviour. There can be a rise in body temperature and arousal from these emotions. Also, even though we may try to hide any changes in non verbal cues, it is near impossible and behavioural leakage can occur, such as lack of eye contact or postural shifts. There may be more pauses in speech, as extra time is required to form a cohesive lie. It is these differences in behaviour that can help one detect your lie. It is those who are better at hiding these behaviours which are more successful in their deception.   High self monitors are people who monitor their behaviour closely, thus have more success in controlling behavioural leakage. This talent has a positive correlation with success of deception. Men, more than women, have been found to be naturally better at controlling their behaviours, such as postural shifts during speech. Nevertheless, even when controlling behaviours, it is impossible to control every aspect of behaviour so there will be leakage that can be spotted. Look for delays in speech, the deceiver creating barriers between them and you e.g. crossing arms, lack of eye contact... Anything unusual.   It depends on what the lie is It is easier to detect a lie when you have knowledge on the matter, for example a lie about having no phone battery can be detected if their Facebook status was recently updated from their phone. However, it is also easier to detect lies about factual lies as logic can be applied to deduce whether they could or could not be feasible. However, it has been found that lies with emotional content are much harder to detect, as logic is harder to apply. Also, preprepared lies are harder to detect as being false, as due to their rehearsed nature they are more concise and to the point. The lack of pauses and speech errors makes them more believable. To spot whether the content of someone’s statement is true look for the length of the utterance and pauses, whether the person seems to be improvising on the spot, or whether the statement seems to be preprepared.     Depends on who the receiver is     In a relationship one may not expect their partner to be lying , due to their close relationship, thus they do not look for non verbal cues, however you do become accustomed to a person's actions thus it could be easier to detect a lie. This is dependent on suspicion. If one isn’t looking for a lie, they are far less likely to discover they are being lied to. However, this can backfire, as one may end up misreading cues in a desperate attempt to spot something unusual. Thus, to spot a deceiver, one should try not to think of explanations of behaviour, but rather look for things out of the ordinary.

Last week the news of the Russian President's divorce spread like wildfire after an interview on Russian television. Vladimir Putin, who has been the elected head of statesince 1993, has ended his 30yr marriage with wife Lyudmila. After marrying in 1983, it is argued that the rise to power is what caused the termination of their relationship, with Vladimir emphasising the time apart from each other is the cause. But after going through so much together, one could question; why now?

But it is not just a rare event...Statistics published by the Office of National Statistics in 2012 show that the amount of divorces in the 45+ age category have incrementally increased over time, but the reasons for this could be many due to the changes in society over time.

Firstly, with the development of medicine and health care, people are generally healthier and living longer. Thus, the idea of leaving a marriage is less daunting as the person feels like they have a lot more of life left to enjoy. Someone is not only more likely to be physically able to deal with the task of divorce, but also mentally. The graph below demonstrates life expectancy is gradually rising through time.

Plus, the fact that times are changing has an influence too. Women are becoming  more financially independent, and have their own careers. Connotations of the “classic housewife” are being set straight on a daily basis by women that go out to work. For these, they no longer feel tied to their husbands if they are no longer in love. Thus it is worth the potential stress so to not remain in an unhappy marriage for another 20-30 years.

Also, marriages change later in life once their children have grown up and moved out the family home. This is because the dynamics in the home change, and it is hard to adapt if you are not prepared for the change. It could also be the case that people wait until the children are grown up to get the ball rolling on the divorce, so not to cause additional stress to third parties. By watching your own parents age and children becoming independent, it may encourage you to reinvent your own life plan.

Whereas someone may argue that they are settled and see no appeal in “going back on the market”, the advances in computer mediated communication are rapid, leading people to be able to meet and engage with others. This is encouraging to those who are dubious of ending a relationship, for it means they can still socialise with ease. This also reduces fears of finding people that are in the same boat as you, as online dating for example is highly accessible. Older generation dating is a niche market which has had a great amount of interest, with online dating websites catering specifically to 50+ years. This is setting straight the presumptions that people tend to become more isolated when older.

With the many changes in technology, medicine, and assumptions of roles in a family people are given ever more opportunity after mid-life to make their own decisions and re-evaluate what they truly desire. Much like Vladimir, you could argue the answer to the question “why now?” indeed could be answered rhetorically with “why not?”.

Ministers are set to invest an additional £10m in mediation services in an attempt to encourage uncontested divorce, according to reports. Research has suggested that an average divorce costs £4,000, with contested matters costing considerably more. Recent figures have shown that mediation costs £500 on average, and are also completed almost four-times quicker than non-mediated matters. This announcement has come following what is often referred to within the legal sector a ‘Divorce Day’: the first working day following the Christmas break when dissatisfied spouses are more likely to initiate a divorce. It is hoped that through encouraging mediation, more and more separated couples will arrive at informal arrangements without the need to engage in lengthy and expensive proceedings. This extra funding is to be used to subsidise mediation services in spite of the fact that recent figures released by the Office for National Statistics revealed that the divorce rate is currently as its lowest level since the seventies. Critics of mediation have claimed that it is only successful when both parties are fully dedicated to resolving all contentious issues and is more likely to benefit the more successful spouse when there is significant disparity between the two parties.

Figures released by the Office of National Statistics have revealed that 117,558 couples divorced in England and Wales in 2011 compared to 132,338 in 2010; a fall of 1.7 per cent. Following an unanticipated rise in 2010, many commentators, including solicitors and sociologists, had claimed that the divorce rate would continue to grow the following year – with the rate having increased by 4.9 per cent from 2009 to 2010 – though recent findings have led many to conclude that this rise was little more than a blip. The figures recorded in 2010 represent the only occasion on which the divorce rate has increased within the past eight years. These findings may suggest that any link between recession and rising divorce rates are inaccurate, though several legal professionals have argued that the effects of the recession are merely delayed. A similar occurrence took place following a recession in the early nineties when, following the UK having been in recession between 1990 and 1992, the divorce rate increased substantially in 1993. Other theorists have suggested that the difficulties that have been brought about by the recession have resulted in unhappy couples postponing their divorces until the economy and value of property improves.  Alternatively, it has also been suggested that falling marriage rates, following having been revealed earlier this year that married individuals are now in a minority, are behind the trend. Harry Benson, of The Marriage Foundation, has disputed such claims, however, having informed the Express: "The longer term trend in divorce rates remains downwards. After peaking in the 1990s, divorce rates are very definitely back at 1970s levels. This has nothing to do with fewer people getting married and everything to do with the way couples who do get married are taking it increasingly seriously." The survey also revealed that the divorce rate amongst the over 60’s is increasing with 8 per cent of men and 5 per cent of women who became divorced last year falling into this age bracket. 49 per cent of couples that divorce last year had at least one child under the age of 16 and 100,760 children were affected by divorce in 2011. Click here for advice on how to obtain a low-cost uncontested divorce.

Just over half of the population feel that divorce is too easy, according to a recent study. The survey, which was conducted by law firm Pannone, polled 2,000 individuals and found that 57 per cent either agreed or strongly agreed that it is currently too easy to obtain a divorce. These findings come just a matter of days before the Office for National Statistics are expected to announce that the divorce rate rose in 2011, following it having grown for the first time in several years in 2010. Two thirds of the 2,000 individuals polled revealed that they felt that adultery was the main cause of divorce, with financial problems, problems raising children and failing to share housework also believed to be common reasons for marital breakdown. Women were also more likely to feel that divorce is currently too easy with 59 per cent agreeing with the statement compared with 55 per cent of male respondents. The vast majority of respondents between the ages of 18 and 24 agreed with this, also. Surprisingly, whilst 58 per cent of married respondents felt that divorce was too easy, 56 per cent of divorcees were also in agreement. In response to these findings, several commentators have claimed that the media coverage afforded to divorcing celebrities has directly affected peoples’ perceptions of divorce and separation, noting that the vast majority of individuals only view divorce as a last resort. Figures published recently have also revealed that married people are now a minority for the first time in the Census’s history, whilst over four million individuals now class themselves as divorced.

Last Wednesday, the Coalition Government announced the completion of an online application designed to help couples going through divorce or separation, prompting criticism from several ministers. According to the Daily Mail, ministers, including former children’s minister Tim Loughton, have claimed that the app undermine Tory promises to promote and protect marriage – policies that they feel played a key role in their ascension to Government. Loughton even called for Chancellor George Osborne to announce tax breaks for married couples in his Autumn Statement; though this did not materialise. The key question here is whether or not any of this criticism is defensible. Do the ministers in question genuinely believe that the introduction of this resource will undermine the institution of marriage, or are they attempting to appease traditionalists whose votes will be key come the next general election? Having reviewed the relevant material, Quickie Divorce believes the latter to be true. The app, fittingly titled ‘Sorting out Separation,’ has the potential to be an extremely useful resource for couples that find themselves going their separate ways, particularly if children are involved. The app offers couples advice on financial matters, housing arrangements and legal matters as well as post-separation parenting. Ultimately, placing all of this information on one site seems to be a pretty good idea – so why has its introduction been met with such vehement criticism. Answering this question is a relatively simple task: there are still individuals who feel that the introduction of such materials encourage divorce. The fact that this resource has been created in order to reduce the negative impact of divorce and separation is something that the individuals who chose to criticise the app will be fully aware, of course, but the need to appease a portion of the voting population – individuals who many would deem to be traditional conservatives – is still palpable. In conclusion, ‘Sorting out Separation’ is a useful tool for separating and divorcing spouses and any criticism of it unwarranted. Click here for more advice on divorce and separation.

Here at Quickie Divorce, we’re regularly asked questions about marriage certificates. Whether it be from were a certified copy can be obtained, or why the courts need this document in order to process a divorce, we’ve quite literally heard it all. In all fairness, the latter question seems like a pretty reasonable one. Why, after all, should anyone need to prove that they’re married when filing for a divorce? It’s reasonable enough to conclude that no-one would file for a divorce unless they were married and had concluded that their marriage had irretrievably broken down, surely? Well, no, actually!

Believe it or not, the courts require proof of marriage as, over the years, many people have filed for divorce presuming that a long-relationship has automatically resulted in them having eloped. Others have mistakenly assumed that they became married following a drunken weekend in a certain American city renowned for 24-hour gambling and impromptu weddings. The courts, therefore, require proof of marriage because, well… they don’t want people applying to dissolve a marriage that simply doesn’t exist.

We’re also regularly asked whether or not the courts will return marriage certificates following the divorce having been finalised. Generally, the Decree Absolute (a certificate that is sent to both parties following the marriage having been dissolved) will replace this document as it serves as not only proof of the fact that the parties are now divorced, but also that they were once married. Nevertheless, if you still wish to keep a copy of your marriage certificate for sentimental reasons, just contact the courts and let them know, they may be able to return it to you.

Ultimately, the most important pieces of information that will be featured on your marriage certificate – when filing for a divorce, at least – are you and your spouse’s names and your place of marriage as they appear on said document. This information will need to be featured in your divorce petition and, should the information featured in this document differ from what is present on your certificate only slightly, then the courts are likely to reject your application. So, remember, your marriage certificate is absolutely key to divorce proceedings.

For more information on divorce, click here.

Divorce, it is continuously claimed, has a substantial and long-lasting effect on any children that may be involved. It is a consensus which was reinforced earlier this week following new research into this area having been published. The paper, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and prepared by a collection of senior academics, revealed that children of divorce were more likely to suffer psychological distress during their early 30s, and also that families’ living arrangements could have an effect on children’s physical as well as their mental health. Such findings have been made and publicised before, of course, and such findings have been challenged by politicians, social scientists and, indeed, divorcees – so much so, in fact, that you cannot help but suspect that these findings will be subject to heavy scrutiny, also. Their retorts will take the standard form: ‘better to grow up in a single family than with unhappy parents,’ ‘divorce, if handled correctly, will have little effect on any children involved,’ and so on. Ultimately, all that is clear is that experts cannot agree on whether or not divorce will have substantive and enduring consequences on any children that may be involved. So what are we to conclude? What, exactly, are unhappy spouses with children to do? Unfortunately, there is no simple answer. Whilst this is a conclusion that may perturb many parents that are considering divorce, it is important not to mislead or cajole such individuals. There is a very reasonable chance that divorce will have a significant effect on children, but it is also feasible that, if the divorce is handled well by parents that negative outcomes – particularly lasting ones – can be negated. Both of these points must be given due consideration by any parent considering the process of ending their relationship with their spouse and co-parent. It would be ideal, of course, for Quickie Divorce to provide a definitive answer. To claim outright that divorce is certain to or guaranteed not to have a substantial long-term effect on the children that are involved, but to do so would be both uninformative and, indeed, irresponsible. Any parent that is considering divorce should evaluate their situation and consider what, in their opinion, is best for their children. Under certain circumstances, it will indeed be best for the children involved. In others, it will not. So, pay heed to these surveys, but do not view them as conclusive. Divorce is complex and, ultimately, it is simply not possible to determine how it will affect you, your spouse or your children. Click here for more divorce advice.

It seems like only yesterday that everyone was talking about how married couples that share housework are less likely to find themselves divorced. Now, though, new research from Norway has suggested that the opposite that may be true: that divorce rates are higher amongst couples were tasks such as housework and childcare are divided equally. The study, conducted by the Norwegian government, concluded that couples were 50 per cent less likely to become divorced when the wife completed the vast majority of the housework. This, of course, contradicts other recent research which concluded that the unequal division of household chores was a common complaint amongst individuals who chose to divorce their spouses. What, then, are we to assume? Does the unequal division of housework lead to divorce or prevent it? Here at Quickie Divorce, we subscribe to the former. Some have attempted to rationalise these findings by claiming that it is younger, professional couples who are more likely to share housework and that such individuals are more likely to have more pragmatic attitudes to marriage and, indeed, divorce. Couples who prescribe to traditional gender roles – such as the breadwinning husband and domestic housewife – are significantly more likely to view divorce in a more negative light than those who do not. And it is this that explains these atypical findings. Couples that share the housework are not more likely to divorce one another because their sharing domestic responsibilities; they are more likely to become divorced because their values are likely to be the very opposite of those espoused by couples who believe that men should have one role and women another. To those who would argue that a husband should go to work whilst a wife stays at home, cleans and rears children, divorce is likely to carry significant stigma – albeit personal rather than societal – and divorce would be unthinkable even if both spouses were deeply unhappy with their marriages. The important conclusion that we can draw from this is that sharing household chores is that sharing domestic duties can, in many instances, promote marital harmony. Some couples may find that the unequal division of housework does the same, however. All couples must consider the kind of arrangements that suits them and that they believe will result in a long and happy marriage. Irrespective of whether a couple do, or do not share housework, they will never be immune to divorce. Click here to find out more about low-cost uncontested divorce solutions from Quickie Divorce.