The Government introduced online divorce which went live to the public on 1 May 2018.

Online divorce was introduced to try and make it easier for people to apply for divorce themselves and to assist people who cannot afford legal fees. However, it seems that the process is not as straightforward as it seems.

Whilst it may be cost effective to apply online for a divorce as it cuts out the legal fees, it may result in applications being rejected due to errors. This results in the whole process taking longer than necessary and the process may become even more stressful.

Once an application for divorce is made online, the Court will send a lengthy summary document which does not look like the usual Divorce Petition. This can be confusing and often leaves people wondering if this is confirmation that the Divorce Petition has been issued and what happens next.

There is further confusion in the event an application needs to be amended. Practice Directions have been issued for the online application, but these directions have not had enough time to be tested to ensure the lay person understands them. Practice Directions are used by solicitors every day and will not always be clear to a lay person. Clear and concise guidance will need to be provided.

Online divorce may seem like the quickest method of obtaining a divorce, but this will not always be the case.

For further information and advice on this issue, and other family law issues, please contact us for a free initial consultation on 01992 306 616 or 0207 956 2740 or email us.