Quickie divorces – are they a trap?
There has been a big increase in the uptake of online divorces (also known as a “quickie divorce”) since Covid.
Numerous firms now offer quickie divorce as a service – a quick Google search came up with c1.5 million results. Many of these though are businesses offering a cheap cut price way of ending a marriage. However, there has been several concerns raised and as a result the Competition and Markets Authority are launching an investigation. They say they have had complaints about poor service, broken promises, misleading claims, and unclear pricing.
Most firms advertising these services are unregulated – in other words they are not lawyers who are subject to the requirements of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). The SRA imposes standards upon law firms including clarity on costs and compulsory professional insurance. Unregulated firms do not need to be insured. Cheap may be cheerful but doesn’t necessarily offer you the best protection.
Be mindful of claims that you see on the internet. Is there such a thing as a “quickie” divorce anyway?
Save in very exceptional circumstances all divorces will take about the same length of time – a little over 6 months from start to finish, as there are inbuilt delays that cannot be avoided.
Should you even be completing your divorce if nothing else is sorted out? Most often the answer is “no”. Financial issues should be resolved before any divorce is completed. Once you are divorced then – obviously – you are no longer each other’s spouse which means you could miss out on valuable pension rights, death in service benefits and possibly life insurance payouts (depending on the policy).
You should certainly get proper legal advice before obtaining your Final Order (the order that means you are divorced).
Bear in mind that since the introduction of “no-fault” divorce anyone can now apply for a divorce online. It is not too complicated a process; it is designed for people to represent themselves. I have several clients who are dealing with that side of things themselves while I represent them in resolving the financial and property issues.
Therefore, before engaging an online divorce firm, at least have a look at the Court’s website to see what is involved. It will be simpler than you think. If you are still unsure after that then instruct a firm of reputable solicitors. The internet is full of dangers, and it is always better to get a personal recommendation before engaging anyone to act on your behalf.
DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions expressed in this article does not address individual requirements and is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute any form of legal advice and should not be relied on or treated as a substitute for specific advice relevant to your particular circumstances.