Is it possible to undertake the process of divorce purely online in England and Wales? Well a quick search on Google would suggest you can.. in fact nowadays the online divorce business has grown to the size where it is big enough to warrant a move into television advertising.

Recent Divorce Statistics

Although many see this as part of a worrying trend in making divorce easier thus undermining the institute of marriage, recent government figures actually show a drop of 2.9% in the number of divorces being granted in England and Wales. (1)

However, despite this recent drop there are still over 300 divorces being granted every day within England and Wales, so it is a process many people are undertaking every year.

Advantages of an Online Divorce

There are many advantages of obtaining a divorce using just a computer and a telephone, such as there being no need to take time off work or pay for childcare in order to attend court or visit your lawyer.

Another advantage is the ability to progress through the divorce faster if you are able to agree up front on how the divorce will be structured.

The final and probably biggest advantage is cost..

The sky is the limit when a divorce is acrimonious and solicitor bills can add up very quickly to eye watering sums. In many instances there is little alternative, but consideration should be given upfront to the cost savings that can be realised if you and your partner reach an agreement.

Is an Online Divorce Right for You?

The very fact that a couple require a divorce would seem to indicate that it is unlikely that they will be able to agree how to split their assets and if children are involved in the marriage then how they will be taken care of once the marriage ends. Surprisingly, this is not always the case and it is in this situation that an online divorce could prove advantageous to both partners.

You must decide who is going to be the petitioner and who is respondent. It is the petitioner who actually files for the divorce and it is the respondent who will receive the forms and needs to agree to them.

It is important for you and your partner to spend time up front deciding how you are going to settle your divorce. Do not rush this stage as any disagreement further down the line will add complexity to the divorce and therefore to the time and cost. This time must be spent effectively, concentrate on the process, be realistic and pragmatic, it is not elapsed time that is important as you can take a lot of time to agree nothing.

If you feel your partner is not being fair with you during your negotiations then face up to this, there is no point in having a simple, quick divorce if it will leave you disadvantaged in the future. You may need to undertake some mediation before being able to move forward with an online divorce or you may need to abandon this simplified process altogether and appoint yourself a lawyer.

OK.. I want an Online Divorce

If you do reach agreement during this stage then you either get the required forms from the court and fill them in yourself (See our article on Can I do a DIY Divorce), or you can use an online service to either provide you with the forms and assistance in completing them or opt for a slightly more expensive managed service where the forms are completed for you.

References

(1) Source of statistics on number of divorces in England and Wales
http://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/divorce/bulletins/divorcesinenglandandwales/2013