UKHow do I get a divorce in England and Wales? What is the process?
You can apply for a divorce in England and Wales by submitting a sole or joint application online via the GOV.UK service, citing irretrievable breakdown of the marriage — now the only ground, with no need to prove fault or separation periods under the new no-fault system introduced in 2022.
What the Law Says
The law changed significantly on 6 April 2022, replacing the previous fault-based system with a no-fault process. The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 removed the need to allege misconduct or separation periods — the sole ground for divorce is that the marriage has broken down irretrievably.
Under the new law, you do not need to blame your spouse or prove separation for two or five years. You simply state that the marriage has broken down irretrievably — and that statement cannot be contested by your spouse.
The court must be satisfied that the applicant(s) reasonably believe the marriage has broken down irretrievably, and there is no requirement to provide evidence or justification beyond that belief.
The process has two main legal stages: first, the court issues a 'conditional order' (formerly decree nisi), and after at least six months, you can apply for the 'final order' (formerly decree absolute), which legally ends the marriage.
Statutory TextA marriage may be dissolved only on the ground that it has broken down irretrievably.
— Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020, s. 1 — Ground for divorce
What to Do
Check eligibility: you or your spouse must have a strong connection to England or Wales (e.g., domicile, habitual residence for at least 6 months, or residence for at least 1 year).
Submit an online application via GOV.UK — either alone (sole application) or jointly with your spouse (joint application). State that the marriage has broken down irretrievably.
Pay the £593 court fee (fee remission available if on low income or benefits).
Wait for the court to issue the conditional order — earliest 20 weeks after application (though processing usually takes ~6 weeks after acknowledgment).
Apply for the final order at least 6 months after the conditional order is made — this legally ends the marriage.
Sources
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IndiaNot legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.