Contact Start route checker
Free UK divorce route checker

Find the right UK divorce route before you apply

Divorce works differently across England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Answer a few simple questions and get a clear guide to the route that may fit your situation — divorce application, clean break order, financial consent order, mediation or professional support.

Start the free checker How it works
✓ Covers England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
✓ Helps separate divorce from financial orders
✓ General guidance, written in plain English
Start here

Answer a few questions

The checker helps you understand what to look at first before you spend money, choose a service, or assume the divorce application is all you need.

Step 1 of 5

Where are you applying?

General guidance only

Divorce is handled differently across the UK. Choose where the divorce will be dealt with.

Choose the closest option. Divorce and finances are separate, so this helps work out what needs sorting first.

In England and Wales, you usually need to have been married for over one year before applying for divorce.

A divorce application usually needs the correct marriage certificate and your spouse’s current contact details.

Divorce does not automatically sort money, property, pensions, debts or future financial claims.

This helps separate divorce-plus-financial-order routes from finance-only routes after divorce has already started.

Scotland has simplified and ordinary divorce routes. Separation time, consent, children under 16 and finances can affect the route.

This matters because Scotland’s simplified divorce route is usually for cases with no children under 16 and no financial matters to sort.

In Northern Ireland, you usually cannot apply for divorce during the first two years of marriage.

Northern Ireland uses different divorce grounds from England and Wales. Choose the closest situation.

If there are safety concerns, pressure, domestic abuse or urgent court issues, specialist support may be important.

Your guide

What to look at next

    Things to be careful with

      In plain English

      This checker gives general guidance only. Divorces.co.uk is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.

      How it works

      It starts with the right question

      Many people start by asking how to get divorced. The better question is what needs sorting: the divorce application, the finances, or both.

      1Choose where the divorce is handled

      England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have different rules, forms and routes.

      2Check the divorce application

      The checker looks at timing, basic documents and whether you may be ready to apply.

      3Separate the finances

      A divorce does not automatically sort money, property, pensions or future financial claims.

      Important: This page provides general information only. Divorces.co.uk is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. If you are unsure about your legal position, finances, safety, children, property, pensions or court documents, consider getting advice from a regulated family solicitor.

      Last updated: June 2026. Divorce rules, court fees, forms and guidance can change, so always check the latest official guidance before applying or making financial decisions.