Divorce Law Solicitors in Bristol

Divorce can be a very stressful experience, but with the right support, it doesn’t have to be. Our divorce solicitors in Bristol are here to help with getting divorced, sorting out your finances and making arrangements for children.

At Lyons Solicitors, we will work closely with you to understand what you want your life to look like after your divorce. We can then help you make the right decisions to get there, offering empathetic support and practical guidance every step of the way.

With many years of experience, we can see you through every stage of divorce proceedings. This includes help with your divorce application, making a financial settlement and getting child arrangements in place. Our team has strong expertise in divorce mediation and other alternative dispute resolution options, so court proceedings are rarely needed.

To discuss your divorce with one of our experts in Chew Magna, Kingswood or Westbury-on-Trym and the wider Bristol area, please get in touch today.

You can use the contact details for each office or, alternatively, fill in the ‘Ask us a question’ form on the right hand side of the page to request a call back.

What is no-fault divorce?

From 6 April 2022, divorce law in the UK has changed. It is now possible to get a ‘no-fault’ divorce, which means there is no need for one spouse to “take the blame” for the end of the marriage as part of the divorce proceedings. This is intended to remove a key source of potential conflict when getting divorced, helping to keep the process more amicable.

The new divorce rules have not changed the process for dividing finances or making arrangements for children. These issues can usually be dealt with through negotiation or mediation, but court proceedings may be needed in some rare cases.

How has UK divorce law changed in 2022?

The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020, which came into force on 6 April 2022, has introduced the following key changes to divorce law in England and Wales:

• Removing the need to give reasons for the end of the marriage – the divorce application now simply needs a statement of “irretrievable breakdown” to confirm the relationship is over
• Introducing the option for joint applications (where a divorcing couple can apply for a divorce together) while retaining the option for a sole application (where one spouse applies alone)
• Removing the option for someone to contest a divorce started by their spouse (except in very limited circumstances)
• Updating terminology into plain English:
  • The Petitioner (the person applying for the divorce) becomes the ‘Applicant’
  • The Decree Nisi (the interim court order confirming there is no reason the divorce cannot go ahead) becomes the ‘Conditional Order’
  • The Decree Absolute (the court order than legally ends a marriage) becomes the Final Order
• Setting a minimum timeframe of 26 weeks (6 months) to get a divorce – this includes a 20-week wait before you can apply for the Conditional Order and a further 6-week wait before you can apply for the Final Order

Fixed fee divorce service

We offer a fixed fee divorce service. This is ideal if you want:

• Your divorce application taken care of
• A guaranteed fee
• Advice from an experienced divorce and family lawyer
• Access to your lawyer by email, video conferencing and direct dial telephone
• A lawyer who explains everything in plain English

What's included in the fixed fee?

Our fixed fee divorce service in Bristol includes all costs associated with obtaining a divorce.

You will be provided with email and telephone contact details for your lawyer. They will keep you up-to-date at all times and be available should you have any questions about your divorce.

Your divorce lawyer will obtain the information we need from you. They will prepare and file all the appropriate paperwork as follows:

• Your divorce application (usually now done online, but can be on paper if you prefer)
• A notice informing the court we are representing you
• A statement confirming the content of your application is still valid
• If you are making a sole application, we will also provide a statement confirming that the signature on the acknowledgement form is that of your spouse
• An application to ask the court to proceed with the divorce and an application for the Conditional Order (which is required to confirm there is no reason your divorce cannot go ahead)
• An application for the Final Order (which legally dissolves your marriage)

Throughout the process, your divorce solicitor will keep you informed of the progress.

In addition to the completion and filing of all the paperwork, we include an allowance for up to 2 hours of discussion with you by phone, email, video conferencing or in person. This is to address any concerns or issues arising from your divorce application. In the vast majority of cases, this is more than sufficient to deal with the divorce process.

Court fees

The divorce court will require you to pay standard government fees. These are currently £593 payable when the application is filed (to issue the application). This is included in our total cost for a fixed fee divorce.

Additional fees

Our fixed fee divorce service covers the proceedings to the end of your marriage. It does not include splitting your finances or making arrangements for children. If you need advice on reaching a financial settlement with your partner or arrangements for your children, this is likely to involve additional work, which your lawyer will explain.

In most cases, divorce proceedings can be completed without difficulty. In some cases, there can be additional issues to be resolved, and we do charge extra for this work.

For sole applications, additional fees will be required for issues including:

• Not being able to trace the other party
• The other party denying receipt of the papers
• Needing to obtain a private detective

If you decide to apply for an order to have your spouse pay the costs you have incurred in obtaining the divorce, additional work may be required. Your lawyer will explain the cost to you. In some instances, you may be required to attend court to address this aspect of your case.

Any extra work and costs will be discussed and agreed with you before any work is undertaken.

Why pay a fixed fee?

By paying a fixed fee at the start of your case, you have certainty about the costs involved. The alternative is to pay an hourly rate for the time your lawyer spends on your case. We believe you should pay for the paperwork that needs to be done rather than the time it takes to do it.

Speak to our divorce solicitors in Bristol

To discuss your divorce with one of our experts in Chew Magna, Kingswood or Westbury-on-Trym and the wider Bristol area, please get in touch today.

You can use the contact details for each office or, alternatively, fill in the ‘Ask us a question’ form on the right hand side of the page to request a call back.