Short answer: the legal minimum is about 26 weeks from the court issuing your application to the earliest point you can finalise — 20 weeks to apply for the Conditional Order, then 6 weeks and 1 day before the Final Order. Real‑world cases are typically 6–8 months, and longer if there are service issues or financial/children matters to resolve. 

1. Issue of the application (Day 0) – The court “issues” your divorce once the application and court fee are processed.

2. Service & Acknowledgement (first 2–6 weeks) – In a sole application, the respondent normally has 14 days from receipt to return the Acknowledgement of Service. Delays here are the most common early bottleneck. 

3. 20‑week reflection period (approx. Months 1–5½) – You cannot apply for a Conditional Order until 20 weeks have passed from issue. This is designed to create breathing space and allow sensible planning around children and finances. 

4. Conditional Order – Once listed and made, you’re past the midpoint.

5. Wait 6 weeks and 1 day – Only then can you apply for a Final Order (the legal end of the marriage).

Civil partnership dissolution follows the same structure, with a 6‑week minimum wait (rather than 6 weeks + 1 day) after the conditional order before applying for the final order. 

• Smooth joint application (no children/finance disputes)

  • Issue and service are straightforward (no respondent AOS needed on a joint).

  • Conditional Order at 20+ weeks, Final Order at 26+ weeks.

  • Estimated total: about 6–7 months including admin time. 

• Sole application with minor service delays

  • Acknowledgement takes reminders or needs re‑service; adds 2–6 weeks.

  • Estimated total: 7–8 months.

• Contested finances or complex circumstances

  • The divorce can complete, but you may choose to wait on the Final Order until a Consent Order is approved (to protect entitlement and avoid unforeseen consequences).

  • Estimated total: 9–12+ months depending on disclosure, negotiations, and court timetabling. 

• Service problems (no email/address; respondent abroad) – We plan for alternative service methods early and track deadlines carefully. (HMCTS bailiff service is available for a set fee.) 

• Name or date discrepancies – If your name has changed since the marriage certificate, we’ll supply the right evidence from the outset to avoid the application bouncing. 

• Financial complexity – Pensions, a family business or multiple properties require fuller disclosure before a Consent Order can be approved. We timetable your disclosure and draft the D81 with you so the court can approve the order efficiently. 

• Rushing the Final Order – GOV.UK specifically warns that if you want a legally binding money/property arrangement, you should apply for this before seeking the Final Order. We align your divorce timeline with your financial order to protect you. 

Can my spouse “block” a divorce?

Under no‑fault rules, contesting the divorce is only possible on narrow grounds (e.g., jurisdiction, validity, already divorced). Disagreeing with the divorce itself is not, by itself, enough. 

Do we both have to attend court?

No — most cases are dealt with online and on paper.

When should I apply for the Final Order?

Earliest is 6 weeks and 1 day after the Conditional Order, but if finances aren’t finalised it’s often safer to apply after your Consent Order is sealed. 

What if the sole applicant doesn’t apply to finalise?

The respondent can usually apply 3 months later (in addition to the 6 weeks and 1 day). 

From the first meeting to the Final Order, we run the timetable, chase milestones, and coordinate any Consent Order/D81 work so you move through each stage on schedule. Our pricing is transparent:

• One‑hour, in‑depth consultation: £150

• Flat‑fee divorce management: £500 + VAT + court fee

• Fixed‑fee options across additional services

(HMCTS sets the court fee — currently £612.) 

The statutory minimum is 20 weeks + 6 weeks and 1 day (plus admin time). In practice, a straightforward case takes around 6–8 months; complex finances or overseas service can extend this. 

• One‑hour, in‑depth consultation: £150 – tailored advice, clear next steps, no obligation.

• Flat‑fee divorce management: £500 + VAT + court fee – best‑in‑class representation for a transparent, fixed rate.

• Transparent, upfront fees for all services – including fixed‑fee options across family matters.

(Court fee is set by HMCTS and is currently £612.) 

We’ll shoulder the paperwork, keep you updated at each milestone, and coordinate the Consent Order/D81 process so your financial agreement is protected.