Yes, agreeing with your spouse is one of the best ways to make the divorce process quicker and simpler.

Without disputes over finances or child arrangements, there’s no need for court hearings or drawn-out negotiations, which significantly reduces the risk of delays.

However, it’s important to note that the legal process cannot be completed in less than 26 weeks due to the mandatory 20-week reflection period and a 6-week waiting period between the conditional and final orders.

These timeframes apply to all divorces, regardless of whether both parties agree.

In 2024, 90% of our clients completed their divorce within 8 months, which is several months faster than the national average.

Online divorce is usually faster because it avoids the lengthy back-and-forth common with solicitors and reduces the risk of errors that can happen when handling it yourself.

For example, completing forms incorrectly or missing deadlines on gov.uk often leads to delays.

When choosing Divorce-Online to handle your divorce, you can be sure that our divorce specialists progress your divorce on your behalf.

The fastest time to get divorced in the UK is 26 weeks (6 months), which applies to everyone. This timeline is determined by the legal requirements introduced under the no-fault divorce system:

• A 20-week reflection period begins after you file the divorce application. This is mandatory, even if both parties agree, to ensure there’s enough time to reflect on the decision and make necessary arrangements.
• After the reflection period, the court grants a conditional order (formerly known as decree nisi). You then need to wait a further 6 weeks before applying for the final order (formerly decree absolute), which legally ends the marriage.

Why is this timeline mandatory?

The 26-week minimum was introduced to ensure that divorces are not rushed and to give couples time to finalise important matters, such as finances and child arrangements before the divorce is legally completed.

What can be done to speed it up?

While the 26-week timeline is legally required and cannot be shortened, you can avoid delays by:

1. Submitting accurate paperwork: Ensure all forms are filled out correctly to prevent court rejections or administrative delays.
2. Agreeing on finances and children early: Reaching mutual agreements before filing your application avoids drawn-out disputes.
3. Responding promptly to court requests: Any delay in responding to court communications can push the timeline further.

By handling everything efficiently and accurately, you can ensure your divorce is completed as quickly as the law allows.

Having children doesn’t automatically make the divorce process slower. The key is whether you and your spouse can agree on child arrangements.

Disputes about living arrangements or financial support can add time, but reaching an agreement early—either directly or through mediation—keeps things on track.

Divorce-Online simplifies the legal side so you can focus on resolving family matters.

Our online divorce portal ensures your application is handled efficiently while giving you the flexibility to manage your divorce around your family commitments.

If your spouse refuses to engage, it can feel frustrating, but you can still move forward.

You’ll need to serve them the divorce papers officially, either through the post or by hiring a process server.

If they continue to avoid responding, you can apply for a court order to proceed without their input.

Divorce-Online can guide you through each step, ensuring the necessary documents are served and submitted correctly.

To avoid delays, be sure your divorce application is accurate, respond promptly to requests from the court, and resolve any disputes early in the process.

Choosing the right service can also make a big difference.

At Divorce-Online, our expertise (handling over 150,000 cases) means fewer errors and faster submissions.

Our online divorce portal keeps everything clear and organised, meaning you can track every step of the process from your phone or laptop.

Many clients tell us it’s a huge relief to see exactly where they stand without needing to chase anyone for updates.

The cost of a divorce varies. DIY divorces through gov.uk cost £593 in court fees, but mistakes can lead to additional expenses.

Solicitors often charge £800-£2,000 or more, which can be out of reach for many people.

Divorce-Online offers fixed-fee services starting from £249, providing an affordable option that doesn’t compromise quality or client support.

Our online divorce service helps you avoid costly delays, and you can track everything online, so you know exactly where your case stands.

Sorting out finances doesn’t have to delay your divorce.

If you’ve already agreed on how to divide assets, applying for a consent order alongside your divorce can save time and ensure everything is legally binding.

Delays often happen when agreements are left unresolved, so addressing these matters early is key.

Divorce-Online offers a fixed-fee consent order service, which many clients find quicker and simpler than going through traditional solicitors.