Divorce

BHP Law's divorce solicitors understand that divorce can be a very difficult time for everyone concerned, often bringing with it many unwanted changes to your life.

Our divorce advice can help resolve the problems arising from your marriage and as a specialist team we focus entirely on family law and use all our experience in obtaining the best result for you. We attempt to make the divorce procedure as simple, swift and amicable as possible.

In order to obtain a divorce you must have been married for at least 12 months. The only ground for a divorce is on the basis of irretrievable breakdown of marriage. This can be based on either:

  • Adultery
  • Unreasonable behaviour
  • Desertion for more than two years
  • Two years separation with the other party's consent
  • Five years separation.

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How long will it take?

A divorce that has no other issues (including financial or children disputes) will usually take between six to nine months to be finalised. A divorce is obtained in two parts, Decree Nisi being the first part of your divorce and Decree Absolute brings your marriage to an end. In most cases there will be no need for you to go to court.


Mediation services

BHP Law supports family mediation and we work in partnership with Family Mediation North East. We offer a range of mediation services for more complicated divorces where there are children and finances that need to be discussed and agreed. Mediation allows both parties to sit down with their solicitors and draw up an agreement without the need for costly Court fees to settle financial disputes or child arrangement disputes. Mediation can help separated couples unravel and resolve disputes about issues such as contact with children and finance and property matters.
 
Mediation services are not always appropriate for all couples but mediation can help couples who wish to separate come to settlements in a more civil way.
 

If you would like to have a chat about your options or how we may be able to help you please contact a member of the team, complete our call back form or contact us directly at your local office.

Your Family Law Team

Oluwapelumi (Amanda) Adeola

Partner

Oluwapelumi (Amanda) Adeola specialises in private Family Law. She moved to the Northeast from London after completing her Legal Practice Course and trained…

Andrea Hewitson

Partner

Andrea is a specialist Family Lawyer with over 30 years’ experience. She undertook her law degree at Northumbria University and went on to study for…

Alex Clancy

Senior Associate

Alex began her career as a Family Law Clerk at Watson Woodhouse Solicitors after graduating from Teesside University in 2004. She spent her first year…

Cheryl Whyte

Senior Associate

Cheryl joined BHP Law in January 2023 as a Senior Associate to help expand the public aspect of the firms growing Family team. Cheryl qualified…

Charlotte Brown

Associate

Charlotte joined BHP Law in February 2024 as an Associate Solicitor to help expand the child law aspect of the firm’s growing family team. Charlotte…

Maariyah Zaman

Solicitor

Maariyah is a newly qualified Solicitor specialising in Family Law, predominantly public children law. Maariyah started her career as a legal secretary…

Nicole Shaw

Trainee Solicitor

Nicole joined BHP Law in January 2023 as a Trainee Solicitor having worked at VCW Law for nearly five years within the Family Department. Nicole commenced…

Gillian Mitchell

Chartered Legal Executive

With over 20 years experience as a Chartered Legal Executive specialising in Family Law, Gillian joined BHP Law's family team in October 2020 bringing…

Leanne Walker

Chartered Legal Executive Advocate

Leanne made the change from the procurement sector to law, having completed her part-time Open University law degree with upper second-class honours in…

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