Since April 2022, no-fault divorce has been available in England and Wales under the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020. The new process removes the need to blame your spouse and sets a minimum timeline of 26 weeks from application to final order. In practice, however, many divorces take considerably longer — often due to avoidable delays.
The No-Fault Divorce Timeline
The process has three key stages. First, you submit a divorce application (sole or joint) to the court. After a 20-week reflection period, you can apply for the Conditional Order. Then, after a further six weeks and one day, you can apply for the Final Order, which legally ends the marriage.
A joint application is almost always faster than a sole application. Both parties sign the application together, which removes the need for the respondent to be served separately.
Why Divorces Take Longer Than 26 Weeks
The most common causes of delay are: court backlogs, failure to resolve financial matters before applying for the Final Order, disputes over children arrangements, and administrative errors in the initial application.
Should You Wait for a Financial Order?
Many solicitors advise clients not to apply for the Final Order until a financial settlement has been agreed and a Consent Order or Clean Break Order has been approved by the court. Rushing to the Final Order without resolving finances can create significant problems later.
Practical Steps to Keep Your Divorce on Track
To minimise delays: use a joint application where possible; instruct a solicitor to prepare the application accurately; begin financial disclosure early; agree on children arrangements as soon as possible; and apply for the Conditional Order promptly once the 20-week period has elapsed.