Do It Yourself Divorce (DIY)
WHAT IS DIY DIVORCE?
DIY or do it yourself divorce is when you and your ex-partner manage the whole divorce process, child arrangements process and the division of your marital assets, finances and pensions process (also called financial settlement process), including all form filling, between yourselves. This type of divorce is suitable for those ex-couples who can amicably reach agreements between themselves.
DIY divorce is cheap, quick, and peaceful.
Our L.I.P website will help you. Our Help Guides have detailed explanations on the whole divorce process, child arrangements process and division of your marital assets process. There are detailed write ups on the forms you will need, links where to find them and other write ups on virtually every thing you could come across during your divorce.
- The divorce process – You can both jointly submit the divorce application form to start divorce proceedings. The court forms you need to submit are explained in our Help Guide 3.
LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE 3 – THE 4 BASIC STEPS OF DIVORCE PAPERWORK EXPLAINED
2) Child arrangements process – Then once you both have agreed child arrangements, you and your ex-partner can write down all your agreements and decisions onto a piece of paper called a draft consent agreement. We have provided a downloadable draft consent agreement template for you to use. Please click on the link below.
Please click on the link below to find out what you can include in your child arrangements agreement.
Please click on the link below to find out how you would get the court to approve your child arrangements agreement.
Please click on the link below for all other aspects of child arrangements.
LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE 4 – CHILD ARRANGEMENTS
3) Financial settlement process – Similar to what we have explained above for your child arrangements process, once you both have agreed the division of your marital assets, finances and pensions, you and your ex-partner can write down all your agreements and decisions onto a piece of paper called a draft consent agreement. We have provided a downloadable draft consent agreement template for you to use. Please click on the link below.
Please click on the link below to find out what you can include in your financial settlement agreement.
Please click on the link below to find out how you would get the court to approve your financial settlement agreement.
Please click on the link below for all other aspects of the division of your marital assets, finances and pensions.
LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE 5 – DIVISION OF MARITAL ASSETS, FINANCES AND PENSIONS
WHAT DOES THE COURT DO ONCE THEY RECEIVE OUR FORMS AND DRAFT CONSENT AGREEMENTS?
Once the court receives your court application forms and draft consent agreements, the court will approve and stamp your draft consent agreements into consent orders/court orders that are legally binding. If there is something that the court wants clarification on they will either write to you both or ask you both to attend a court hearing.
IS DIY DIVORCE POPULAR?
This type of divorce is now very popular especially with legal aid cuts. Most people today do not want to go to court and deal with solicitors and barristers and have judges make decisions for them that they have to live with. At the same time this way saves a lot of money, heartache and time.
CAN YOU GET OUTSIDE HELP AT ANY TIME?
Please note if at any time you feel you need legal advice or help, you can go to the citizens advice bureau, get a 1 hour free consultation with a family law firm, or pay a solicitor for a few hours of advice. You can also contact an online divorce company for help. They are relatively cheap.
WILL YOU BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THE COURT FORMS YOURSELVES AND UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS?
Of course you can. This website will help you all the way through.
ONCE YOU AND YOUR EX-PARTNER REACH AGREEMENTS WHO WILL WRITE THEM DOWN ON A DRAFT CONSENT AGREEMENT TO SEND TO THE COURT?
You can get a solicitor to write it but please negotiate the fee and shop around. You can write it yourselves using our template for a draft consent agreement. Please click on the link below so can be taken to the page where you will find a template.