Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Key definition
Dissolution definition What does Dissolution mean? In family law, dissolution is the court process that ends a civil partnership and restores each partner to single status. It is the route used to end both same‑sex and opposite‑sex civil partnerships in the UK, and remaining same‑sex civil partnerships in Ireland. In England and Wales, dissolution is a statutory process under the Civil Partnership Act 2004, as amended by the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020: a sole or joint application supported by a statement of irretrievable breakdown leads (after a minimum 20‑week period) to a conditional order and then a final order. Northern Ireland now operates a...
Read More
No-fault divorce under the DDSA 2020: client guide to procedure, timings, joint applications and costs (England and Wales)
Published by a
LexisNexis Family expert
Precedents
This document offers general guidance on divorce procedure. Your family solicitor can provide advice tailored to your circumstances. Specific advice will depend on your circumstances, and your family solicitor can provide this.
No fault divorce
The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 (DDSA 2020) substantially reshaped divorce law, aiming to lower acrimony by bringing in the commonly called ‘no fault divorce’. The legislation removes the need to attribute fault when initiating proceedings, rather than apportion blame at the outset. It entirely dispenses with attributing blame at the commencement of divorce proceedings.
Historically, to obtain a divorce in England and Wales, the applicant had to demonstrate that the marriage had irretrievably broken down, which required proving one of five facts. Three rested on fault—Adultery, Unreasonable behaviour, and Desertion—while two depended on a qualifying period of separation: two years with consent, or five years without consent...
To view the latest version of this document and thousands of others like it, sign-in with LexisNexis or register for a free trial.
Web page updated on 22/05/2026
Popular documents
When evaluating a general damages claim, the practitioner ought initially to refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG)...
This Practice Note This Practice Note reviews mechanisms used in settling litigation. A Tomlin order consists of a consent order paired with a schedule. It operates to stay proceedings on terms that have been agreed. The provisions contained in the schedule may remain confidential. This Practice Note describes the scope of confidentiality attaching to the schedule and sets out how it differs from a standard consent order. Sample wording for a Tomlin order is included, alongside links to precedents, as well as guidance on court approval. It also addresses varying, setting aside and enforcing a Tomlin order, including the considerations the court will take into account when handling applications for each. Further guidance is provided on interpreting and applying the relevant provisions of the CPR; however, some courts and divisions impose very specific requirements for both drafting and approval, and for approaching the schedule and confidentiality issues. Accordingly, you must consider the particular rules and court guide provisions in the forum where your claim is proceeding when drawing up the Tomlin order...
Date [ date ] Parties [ name of Landlord ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Landlord) [ name of Tenant ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Tenant) [ [ name of Guarantor ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Guarantor) ] [ [ name of Mortgagee ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Mortgagee) ] Definitions Within this Deed, the terms below shall be interpreted as follows: [ Annual Rent • the annual sum reserved under the Lease; ] [ Insurance Rent • the Tenant’s share of the Landlord’s costs of insuring the Property (as set out in the Lease); ] Lease • the lease of the Property dated [ date ], entered into between (1) [ the Landlord OR [ name ...
I, [ name ], of [ address ], solemnly and sincerely state that: [ Matters to be verified, set out in numbered paragraphs ] I make this solemn statement in good conscience, believing it to be true, and pursuant to the provisions of the Statutory Declarations Act 1835. DECLARED at [ details ] this [ day ] day of [ month and year ] Before me ................................................................................ [ signature of the person before whom the declaration is made ] A [ commissioner for oaths OR [ solicitor OR [ insert other qualification ] ] authorised to administer oaths ]...
Discover more from LexisNexis
