Family Law

There is in fact only one ground for Divorce which is that the marriage has “irretrievably broken down”. However in order to establish this you will need to prove one of five facts: Adultery, Unreasonable Behaviour, Desertion, that you have lived apart for two years or more (this will require your spouse’s consent) or  that you have lived apart for five years or more.

Yes but only if you have been married for more than one year and can prove that your spouse has either committed adultery or behaved in such a way that you cannot reasonably be expected to live with them (“Unreasonable behaviour”).

Divorce proceedings through the court may only take between 4 and 5 months (but there can sometimes be delays).

The least contentious way is to consider dealing with it on the basis that you have lived apart for 2 years or more and your spouse consents to a Divorce. You may also wish to consider Family Mediation as a way of resolving any issues arising out of the breakdown of the marriage.

Mediation is where an independent, professionally trained Mediator helps you and your spouse work out an agreement about issues such as arrangements for children, child maintenance payments and finances such as what to do with your house, savings, pensions and debts. Mediation can also be helpful when arrangements that you have made before need to change, particularly as your children grow up.

Yes, you will be required to provide full and honest disclosure of your finances with documentation in support. Refusal to do so could mean that a court orders you to do so. Equally if you provide false information any order that is made based on that false information could be overturned by the court at a later date.