Divorce and Family
Having decided to end your marriage, you need to find a way to organise your affairs for the future wellbeing of your family. This may include deciding where everyone will live, agreeing financial arrangements and resolving disputes about children. The support of
family and friends will be invaluable in this process, but so too will be having a divorce
lawyer at your side who is committed to achieving the best possible outcome.
To apply for a divorce you have to be married for a year. The only ground for divorce is the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage.
Adopting a constructive and non-confrontational approach, the family law specialists at
Hervey Dickens Solicitors are here to guide you through every stage of the divorce process. We can help initiate or respond to divorce proceedings, as well as assisting you in reaching an agreement on the issues that need to be resolved.
With our empathetic and pragmatic no fault divorce legal advice, we can help you achieve a positive outcome that protects your interests and those of your loved ones – usually without the need for costly, time-consuming and stressful court proceedings.
Why Choose Us!
Hervey Dickens Solicitors is a law firm based in Kent with offices in Swanscombe and Gravesend is a reliable and trusted law firm offering a wide range of legal services nationwide. Whether you require assistance with conveyancing, powers of attorney, family law or business immigration law, we are well equipped to help with your legal requirements efficiently and professionally.
Our team have over 15 years' experience post qualifications and pride ourselves on our many successes and satisfied clients. We are fully qualified and are associates of The Law Society: SRA No. 662539 and SRA NO. 8014439
If you would like to discuss your personal requirements or if you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to get in touch and speak to our approachable and expert solicitors today.
We Are Specialists
Our Team brings proven expertise and trusted professionalism to every engagement
Professional Service
We treat all clients with utmost Professionalism, Respect and Understanding
Proven Track Record
With over a decade of experience we’ve had many satisfied clients
How we can help you through the divorce process
- Advising you on the divorce process
- Completing and submitting the necessary paperwork
- Supporting you in making suitable arrangements and in resolving disputes about children
- Helping you to apply for a parental responsibility order where you have no legal rights in respect of a child you have cared for
- Helping you to sort out financial matters and to resolve property disputes
- Advising you on making a will or updating an existing will in which your spouse may be mentioned
- Liaising with pension providers when there are issues around entitlement to divide pension benefits
- Explaining the options available to help you reach an amicable agreement, including mediation or collaborative law
- Represent you in any Court Proceedings to resolve financial matters or issues regarding the children.
Divorce Mediation
Mediation is now the most common way to deal with issues surrounding divorce and separation. It allows you and your former partner to work together to find amicable solutions to issues such as separating your finances and making arrangements for your children.
Mediation involves a series of meetings between you, your former partner and a trained family mediators. The mediator acts as a neutral third party, helping to guide the discussion and defuse any potential for conflict, keeping the process productive.
Mediation typically allows you to reach an agreement on the practical decisions you need to make during your divorce, saving you time, money and unnecessary stress.
No Fault Divorce Explained
How has the divorce law changed?
For 49 years, the divorce law had remained the same under the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 and was considered outdated by many. On 6 April 2022, the law changed, set out
under the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020. A number of factors changed,
including:
- Removing the five facts to prove the ‘statement of irretrievable breakdown’
- Joint applications can be made in addition to sole applications
- No fault or blame put on either party
- No fault divorce cannot be contested
- Introduction of 20 week cooling off period between the divorce application and Conditional Order
- Key divorce terms have changed, including:
- ‘Petitioner’ is now the ‘applicant’ or ‘joint applicants’
- ‘Divorce petition’ is now ‘divorce application’
- ‘Decree Nisi’ is now ‘Conditional Order’
- ‘Decree Absolute’ is now ‘Final Order’
How long is the no fault divorce process?
The minimum time it takes for no fault divorce to finalise is 26 weeks (6 months). However, for some divorcing couples, it may take longer because there are issues with agreeing on financial settlements and arrangements for children.
From when the divorce application is issued by the court, there will be a minimum 20 week wait until the applicant or joint applicants can apply for the Conditional Order, and this waiting time allows couples to reflect and be certain they’ve made the right decision, otherwise known as the cooling off period. Once the Conditional Order has been granted by the court, the applicant or joint applicants are required to wait an additional 6 weeks before applying for the Final Order, which confirms the divorce.
Our Divorce Fees
Fixed Cost Initial Appointment
We offer an initial 30 minute appointment to discuss your requirements for £200.00 plus VAT.
We can then advise you of your legal options and the likely costs involved. Once you instruct us this amount will be taken off your final bill.
Fixed fee Divorce
Many of our divorce services can be offered on a fixed fee basis, for example preparing and submitting a divorce application and applying for a Final Order.
For more complicated matters, such as dealing with complex financial settlements or issues regarding the children, we will agree a fee structure based on our hourly rates and ensure all work is agreed before any cost is incurred. That way, you can stay in control of the costs of your divorce at all times.
Book an appointment with our divorce lawyers in Swanscombe and Gravesend.
To arrange an initial fixed cost appointment with our divorce law solicitors, please call us
on 01322 949579 or use our simple contact form and we will get back to your quickly.
Alternatively, you can contact your local Hervey Dickens Solicitors office in Swanscombe or Gravesend.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is commercial conveyancing?
Commercial conveyancing refers to the process of transferring the ownership of a property from one person to another. The commercial conveyancing process varies depending on whether you are the buyer or the seller. The procedure includes various tasks and stages
such as:
- Negotiating the pre-contract conditions
- Investigating the property title
- Reviewing and drafting leases
- Making arrangements with mortgage providers and surveyors
- Drafting the sale contract
- Approving the transfer deed
- Working with mortgage providers and surveyors
- Paying Stamp Duty
- Contacting Land Registry to register the new ownership
How much does commercial conveyancing cost?
Commercial conveyancing costs vary according to the type of property and the complexity of the deal. The process includes fees such as local searches, transfer fees, land registration and solicitor fees.
To get an accurate quote, get in touch with our commercial conveyancing solicitors at Hervey Dickens Solicitors.
What does a commercial property solicitor do?
A commercial property solicitor starts off by investigating the title deeds and conducting the appropriate property searches. They draft the contracts and support buyers and sellers in negotiating. Property lawyers assist these parties with commercial property requirements such as insurance, mortgage finance, and Stamp Duty Tax.
Commercial property solicitors help buyers and sellers to exchange contracts, organise a completion date and transfer property ownership. To ensure that a commercial property transaction runs smoothly, it’s essential to gain the support of an expert.
How long does a commercial property transaction take?
A commercial property transaction should take approximately 6 and 10 weeks, however, the due diligence processes may take longer with complicated transactions.
When you work with our commercial conveyancing solicitors, we will attempt to offer an estimate of how long your transaction will take, based on the circumstances.
Contact our commercial property solicitors at Hervey Dickens Solicitors today
To discuss your legal needs today, get in touch with our commercial property conveyancing solicitors at Hervey Dickens Solicitors. You can call us on 01322 949579.
We have offices in Swanscombe and Gravesend where we can meet you to discuss your requirements.
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