DIY Divorce in 2024 – Is It Possible & How Does It Work?

Is my situation suitable for a DIY divorce?

By now, you understand what a DIY divorce is and how it works, but is it right for you?

There are various things to consider, such as:

1. Are you confident and comfortable dealing with the legal process?
2. Do you want the added stress involved with completing your own divorce?
3. Do you have financial arrangements to make alongside the divorce proceedings?
4. Are you happy to spend 20+ hours completing forms, speaking to your ex, and ringing the court?

Most people opt for the DIY route because of costs. They want a quick divorce for as little money as possible.

The cost of a divorce is typically between £800 – £1,500, but by doing it yourself and avoiding those fees you can save hundreds.

Cost isn’t the only factor to consider. Divorce is a legal process, so things can go wrong or be done incorrectly. This can lead to additional costs.

You need to look at the hassle and time commitment involved with a DIY divorce to truly know whether it’s the right option for you.

Have you considered the inconvenience of handling a divorce alongside a busy life and weighed up whether an additional £200-£300 is worth it?

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What are the Pros and Cons of DIY divorce?

Is a DIY divorce a good idea? It can be, provided your circumstances are right, but it’s certainly not a good idea for everyone.

Here are the pros and cons of a do-it-yourself divorce:

What are the potential risks of a DIY divorce?

Here’s an outline of the potential risks of completing a DIY divorce for couples in England and Wales:

• Errors on legal forms – Making errors on the legal forms can lead to delays, or even invalidate the divorce.
• Focusing on short-term needs – Only focusing on short-term needs may result in unfair financial settlements or missed entitlements. Generally speaking, women prioritise immediate housing needs over long-term financial security, whereas men focus on wealth preservation through pensions and assets. Without legal advice from family law solicitors, you won’t know whether what you’re signing (if at all) is fair and reasonable.
• Not obtaining a financial order after the divorce – Ignoring this because you have no assets to divide or you have sold the house and moved out could leave you vulnerable to future financial claims. This is one of the main dangers of divorce without a financial settlement in place.
• Emotional strain – Managing the emotional strain of divorce proceedings without professional support could exacerbate conflict or emotional distress for both parties.

What are the alternative options?

Although the vast majority of people who file for divorce do so by themselves, there are two other options available.

1) Divorce Online

The simplest and most affordable alternative to doing your own divorce is using an online divorce service.

An online divorce will take away all of the downsides of a DIY divorce such as the time strain and the hassle.

You can get a divorce online for £249. This gives you the guarantee of obtaining a straightforward divorce without any issues.

To make deciding which option is right for you easier, we’ve put together a comparison of divorce online and DIY divorce.

2) Local solicitors

If you’re considering doing your own divorce to save money, then hiring solicitors to help you probably isn’t your first choice.

Most solicitors firms now offer fixed fee packages instead of the traditional hourly rates method.

These fixed-fee services are suitable for couples who are in agreement and who are not looking to obtain any kind of financial order.

Has no-fault divorce made DIY divorce easier?

Previously, a DIY divorce may have involved downloading a ‘diy divorce kit’, which included the divorce forms and a guide for you to follow.

No-fault divorce has digitalised the divorce procedure, meaning you can now complete a DIY divorce online.

From a phone or laptop, you can start divorce proceedings. No need to download any forms or complete paperwork.

No fault divorce has undoubtedly made it easier for couples who are in complete agreement to end their marriage.

Whether or not this type of divorce is suitable for you and your circumstances is another question.

The Key Considerations

While it’s becoming more common for couples in the UK to opt for a DIY divorce, caution is warranted.

We appreciate the allure of saving on solicitor fees may be strong, but the potential pitfalls can have far-reaching consequences, overshadowing any initial financial benefits.

There is no such thing as a quick divorce anymore, so you’ll only be disappointed when court delays or prolonged waiting periods occur either due to administration issues or errors on paperwork.

Using an online divorce service is the bridge between DIY divorce and divorce solicitors.

With an online divorce, you get the professionalism of solicitors but without the excessive legal fees! Get started with your divorce today by clicking below.