Divorce Without Your Spouse’s Consent: Steps, Costs, FAQs

Can you divorce without the other person signing?

You can get a divorce in the UK without your spouse’s consent. The no-fault divorce system allows one spouse to file based on the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage, eliminating the need for both parties to agree.

Legal measures ensure that divorce can proceed even when one spouse refuses to participate. A process server can deliver the necessary paperwork, ensuring the divorce process isn’t delayed, even if your spouse avoids acknowledging the petition.

Under no-fault divorce laws, proving fault or long separation is no longer necessary. The new system focuses on the marriage breakdown, allowing one spouse to apply for divorce without being dependent on the other’s cooperation.

When your spouse avoids engagement in the process, the courts provide options to move forward, like using deemed service. This ensures that a lack of cooperation doesn’t prevent the divorce from proceeding.

A spouse cannot block divorce proceedings by contesting the application without valid grounds. The current system limits what they can contest, ensuring individuals can still obtain a divorce, even if the other party resists.

Why No-Fault Divorce Matters

In April 2022, no-fault divorce redefined how UK divorces are processed, even when a spouse withholds consent.

The new law prevents an uncooperative spouse from blocking or delaying proceedings. Divorce can proceed without their participation, ensuring non-consent doesn’t obstruct the application.

Therefore, consent from your spouse is no longer required to file for divorce. After submitting a sole application, the court notifies your spouse, but their agreement is unnecessary.

Previous laws allowed contested divorces to drag on, but this change streamlined the process by focusing solely on the breakdown of the marriage.

Attempts by your spouse to delay or drag out divorce won’t stop the court from continuing. The system ensures that individuals in uncooperative or controlling relationships can still move forward with the divorce, providing legal safeguards.

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Common challenges when a spouse doesn’t agree to divorce

Divorce can bring both emotional and legal complications, especially if your spouse doesn’t cooperate.

Despite the no-fault divorce system simplifying many aspects, delays and challenges can still occur.

Fortunately, legal mechanisms are in place to help you move forward, even in difficult situations.

1. Spouse Avoiding Service of Papers

A frequent challenge occurs when a spouse actively avoids receiving divorce papers, which can significantly delay the proceedings.

Without formal proof that your spouse has been served, the court cannot proceed with the divorce application.

When a spouse evades receiving the papers, you can hire a process server. This professional will physically deliver the documents to your spouse at their residence or workplace, ensuring they receive them.

If the process server cannot serve the papers after multiple attempts, you can apply for a substituted service.

This option allows you to serve the papers via alternative means, such as email or even publishing a notice in a newspaper, depending on the court’s permission.

You can also use deemed service if you can prove your spouse acknowledged the papers in an informal way (e.g., text or email), which can move the process forward without further delays.

These solutions ensure that a spouse’s refusal to accept the papers cannot stop the legal proceedings indefinitely.

2. Spouse Delaying the Acknowledgement of Service

Even after receiving the divorce papers, a spouse may attempt to delay the process by not returning the Acknowledgement of Service form. Without this form, the court cannot confirm that they received the papers, causing unnecessary delays.

Courts are prepared for this situation and have measures in place to prevent it from derailing the divorce. After a reasonable waiting period, you can apply to the court to proceed without the Acknowledgement of Service.

To do this, you must demonstrate that the papers were served either through a process server or via deemed service.

Once the court is satisfied that your spouse has been notified, they will allow you to proceed with the Conditional Order (Decree Nisi), moving the divorce forward despite their lack of response.

This step ensures that one party cannot control the process through non-participation.

3. Spouse Contesting the Divorce

In some cases, a spouse may attempt to contest the divorce. Although this is rare under the no-fault system, they might claim procedural errors, jurisdiction issues, or even fraud. While these challenges can create delays, they rarely prevent the divorce from being finalised.

If your spouse files an objection to the divorce, it will likely lead to a court hearing where both parties present their arguments.

Under the current no-fault rules, a divorce can only be contested on very limited legal grounds, such as jurisdictional challenges or significant procedural mistakes.

Most contests are unsuccessful unless there is a valid legal basis, and the courts prioritise the applicant’s right to end the marriage.

Having a family law solicitor represent you during this process can help ensure that your case is strong, reducing the likelihood of further delays or complications.

This system minimises the risk of lengthy contested divorce proceedings that were more common under previous laws.

4. Financial and Childcare Arrangements

While ending the marriage may be straightforward under the no-fault system, financial settlements and childcare arrangements can be more complicated.

When spouses disagree on these issues, it can extend the timeline for finalising the divorce, as these matters need to be resolved before applying for the Final Order (Decree Absolute).

If your spouse is unwilling to cooperate on financial or childcare matters, you can apply for court orders to resolve these issues.

A financial consent order can legally bind both parties to a settlement, ensuring that assets, debts, and property are divided fairly.

For child custody and visitation issues, you may need to seek a Child Arrangements Order to establish clear guidelines on parenting responsibilities.

Mediation services can also help negotiate agreements, but if these fail, the court will make the final decisions to ensure both parties are legally obligated to comply.

These steps help ensure that unresolved financial or childcare disputes don’t indefinitely delay the divorce process.

How to Proceed with a Divorce If Your Spouse is Uncooperative?

It’s important you know what to do if your ex won’t sign the divorce papers or is generally uncooperative, especially if you are doing it yourself without legal representation.

Here is a step-by-step guide to follow should your husband or wife drag out the divorce or not give content:

1. Filing the Divorce Petition

Begin by filing a divorce petition using the D8 form. This form requires you to provide basic details about your marriage, the grounds for divorce (which should reflect the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage), and your spouse’s contact information.

2. Service of the Divorce Papers

Once the court processes your petition, they will send a copy of the divorce papers (the petition) to your spouse. This is known as the ‘service’ of the papers.

If your spouse is cooperative, they will complete and return the Acknowledgement of Service form within 7-14 days.

If your spouse does not respond, you need to prove that they received the papers. To do this you can:

• Provide evidence such as text messages or emails where your spouse acknowledges receipt.
• Apply for “deemed service” if you have evidence that your spouse received the papers but hasn’t responded. This involves submitting a court application along with the evidence.

3. Using a Process Server

If your spouse does not respond to the served papers, you can instruct a process server to personally deliver the documents to your spouse.

Once served, the process server will provide you with a certificate of service, which you then submit to the court.

A process server can serve papers at your spouse’s home, workplace, or any location where they are likely to be found.

4. Applying for Conditional Order

At this stage of proceedings, you can apply for a Conditional Order (Decree Nisi), which is a provisional decree stating that the court sees no reason why you cannot divorce.

Include evidence that your spouse has been served, such as the certificate from the process server or proof of deemed service.

5. Dealing with a Defended Divorce

If your spouse actively defends the divorce by filing an ‘answer to divorce’ form, this could lead to a court hearing.

You may need to attend a court hearing if your spouse submits a defence where both sides will present their case.

Be prepared to provide evidence supporting the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage.

If the court agrees with your petition, they will still grant the Decree Nisi, after which you can proceed to apply for the Decree Absolute.

6. Applying for Final Order

Six weeks after the Conditional Order has been granted, you can apply for the Final Order (Decree Absolute), which finalises the divorce.

Submit your application for Decree Absolute to the court, officially ending the marriage.

If your spouse continues to refuse to engage, this step can still proceed without their input.

How Long Does a Divorce Take if One Party Doesn’t Agree?

A divorce where one party does not agree can take longer than a straightforward, uncontested divorce.

On average, an uncontested divorce might take between 6 to 8 months. However, if one party is uncooperative, the timeline can be extended due to delays in service, hearings, and other legal procedures to over 12 months.

A typical uncontested divorce should take around 7 months to finalise, however, it can take over a year to complete if a spouse refuses to engage or consent to the divorce.

Can I Get a Divorce Without My Spouse Knowing?

It is a legal requirement in the UK that your spouse is notified of the divorce proceedings. You cannot obtain a divorce without their knowledge.

The court must be satisfied that your spouse has been properly informed, even if they choose not to participate in the process.

If your spouse is avoiding service, you can apply to the court for alternative methods of service. This might involve serving the papers via email, social media, or even through a public notice if the whereabouts of your spouse are unknown.

We often hear from clients “My husband has filed for divorce without telling me”. In this instance, you should seek legal advice to understand your options.

Unsure If Your Ex Will Cooperate?

Divorce without the other party’s consent can be complicated, but UK law provides clear avenues to proceed.

With the advent of no-fault divorce, it is now simpler than ever to obtain a divorce even when your spouse is uncooperative.

If you find yourself in this situation, it is advisable to seek legal advice to ensure the process is handled efficiently and your rights are protected.

Our online divorce service for £249 can help you achieve a quick and simple divorce, even if your husband or wife is uncooperative.

Legal fees with local solicitors can cost upwards of £3,000 when a spouse doesn’t consent to the divorce.