Online Divorce Applications – Avoid the Pitfalls

“The seemingly simple process of online divorce applications can easily lead to errors that can cause financial and legal difficulties later on”, says Lucy Hart.

In order to facilitate the process of divorce more easily and with a significant reduction in costs, divorcing couples have been assisted through access to an online portal, as well as by introducing no-fault divorce.

In the aftermath of a marriage breakdown, the majority of people will encounter financial difficulties along the way. It may be tempting to submit your own divorce application online however, if you fail to seek professional legal guidance, errors within the online process can easily occur. This can result in serious consequences, affecting an applicant’s entitlement to make a financial claim later in the process. Rectifying such errors can be a costly legal exercise.

Many divorcing couples fall into the trap of assuming there is no need to seek expert legal advice regarding the financial aspects of their case following the online submission. It is still essential to obtain specialist legal guidance to ensure peace of mind in terms of a binding financial order that cannot be challenged in the future.

One area in particular which may appear straightforward but can easily be misunderstood, is the section where applicants are asked to confirm that the court has the jurisdiction and legal authority to proceed with the application. It is essential that this section is completed correctly to avoid invalidating any order later made within the divorce proceedings. Without legal assistance to determine terminology surrounding issues of domicile and residence, significant mistakes could be made.

Although the online divorce process is approved by family lawyers due to its ease of access and simplicity, many are cautious of the dangers if applicants fail to seek the appropriate legal guidance in a timely manner. This can result in costly, avoidable mistakes which later need to be corrected. For this reason, it is vital that expert legal advice is acquired from the outset.

Here at Sinclair Law, we have a team of highly skilled solicitors with over 25 years worth of experience dealing with family law matters. We pride ourselves on offering an understanding and empathetic approach and offering expert advice. Our high success rates have earned us the status of being one of Cheshire’s leading family solicitors. Contact us today for a free 30-minute consultation.

Lucy Hart – Solicitor and Director, Sinclair Law Solicitors