Divorce · timescales
How long does a divorce take in England and Wales?
A divorce in England and Wales normally takes at least 7 months, GOV.UK says[1]. The law makes you wait 20 weeks from the application before the conditional order, and 43 days after it before the final order[2][3]. In April to June 2026 the median was 40 weeks from application to final order[4].
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01/ The minimum
The waiting periods set by law
Since 6 April 2022, a divorce order is first made as a conditional order, and the applicant cannot confirm they want to continue to a conditional order until 20 weeks after proceedings started[2]. The court rules say you can apply for the conditional order at any time after 20 weeks from the date the application was issued, once the time for your husband or wife to acknowledge it has passed[5].
The conditional order cannot be made final until 6 weeks after it is made[2]. GOV.UK puts this as waiting at least 43 days (6 weeks and 1 day) after the conditional order before you apply for the final order, which is what ends the marriage[3].
On top of these waits, the court has to review your application for the conditional order, which may take several weeks[3]. That is why GOV.UK says a divorce normally takes at least 7 months, whether you apply jointly or on your own[1]. See how to get a divorce for each step in full.
02/ In practice
How long divorces actually take
The Ministry of Justice publishes divorce times for England and Wales every quarter; its most recent release, published on 24 September 2026, covers April to June 2026[4]. That quarter the median was 28 weeks from application to conditional order and 40 weeks to final order, well beyond the legal minimum[4][2].
The average (mean) is higher: 40 weeks to conditional order and 68 weeks to final order in April to June 2026[4]. The Ministry of Justice says the mean can be inflated by old cases finishing, and that the median may be a better guide to how long current divorces take[8].
| Quarter (release date) | To conditional order | To final order |
|---|---|---|
| April to June 2026 (published 24 September 2026) | 28 weeks | 40 weeks |
| October to December 2025 (published 26 March 2026) | 28 weeks | 38 weeks |
Median weeks from the date of application, from the Ministry of Justice bulletins for each quarter[4][8].
04/ Delays
What can slow a divorce down
The official guidance and court rules point to these common causes of a longer divorce[6][7][3]:
- your husband or wife not responding to a sole application, in which case the court contacts you about what you can do[6];
- a dispute: they can file an answer within 21 days of the date their acknowledgement was due, but only for a legal reason such as jurisdiction or the validity of the marriage[7];
- the court's review of the application for the conditional order, which may take several weeks[3];
- sorting out money first: GOV.UK says to apply for any legally binding financial arrangement before the final order[3];
- a request by your husband or wife that the court considers their financial position before the final order[9].
05/ Money
Waiting for a financial order before the final order
GOV.UK says that if you want a legally binding arrangement for dividing money and property, you should apply to the court for it before the final order[3]. It says an application is usually simpler after the conditional order and before the final order, and that finalising the divorce first may have financial consequences, particularly for pensions[10].
The court cannot approve a consent order before the conditional order, and the order only takes effect after the final order[11]. See consent orders if you have agreed, or financial settlement on divorce if you have not.
If the court has to decide, the first hearing on a Form A application is roughly 12 to 16 weeks after you apply, Advicenow says[12]. You normally need a MIAM before applying for a financial order, although not for the divorce itself[13][14]. See do I need a MIAM for Form A.
On a sole application, the other spouse can ask the court to consider their financial position after the divorce; the court must then not make the final order until it is satisfied the financial provision is reasonable and fair or the best that can be made, unless there is a reason to proceed without delay and a satisfactory undertaking is given[9].
06/ Late applications
If more than 12 months pass after the conditional order
You should apply for the final order within 12 months of the conditional order, or you will have to explain the delay[3]. Under the court rules, a late request must include a written explanation of why it was not made earlier; the court can ask for that explanation to be confirmed with a statement of truth, and then makes whatever order it thinks fit[5].
07/ If one of you stops
If your husband or wife does not take the next step
You can apply for either order as a sole applicant even if you started jointly[3]. If you switch from joint to sole for the final order, the rules say you must give the other person 14 days' notice first[5].
If a sole applicant does not apply to finalise the divorce, the other spouse can, but only after an extra 3 months on top of the 43 days[3]. If the applicant does not apply for the conditional order, the other spouse can ask the court's permission to apply instead[15].
08/ Changing your mind
If you get back together
Between the conditional order and the final order, either of you can ask the court to cancel (rescind) the conditional order if you are reconciled and both agree[5].
09/ Scotland and Northern Ireland
Divorcing in Scotland or Northern Ireland
This page covers England and Wales; Scotland and Northern Ireland have a different divorce process[16]. The Northern Ireland courts service's statistics guide says a divorce there needs one of five facts, such as two years' separation with consent[17]. See divorce statistics by nation for how many divorces each nation records.
10/ Questions
Frequently asked questions
How long does a divorce take in the UK?
Can a divorce be done faster than 20 weeks?
How long after the conditional order is the final order?
Is a joint divorce quicker than a sole one?
Should we sort out finances before the final order?
What happens if we wait more than 12 months to apply for the final order?
11/ Sources
Sources we checked
- Get a divorce: before you apply — GOV.UK
- Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, section 1 — legislation.gov.uk
- Get a divorce: conditional order and finalising your divorce (printable guide) — GOV.UK
- Family Court Statistics Quarterly: April to June 2026 — Ministry of Justice, GOV.UK
- Family Procedure Rules, Part 7, rules 7.9, 7.19 and 7.34 — justice.gov.uk
- Get a divorce: what happens after you apply — GOV.UK
- Family Procedure Rules, Part 7, rule 7.7 — justice.gov.uk · Form D10 (05.24), acknowledgment of service, PDF — HMCTS
- Family Court Statistics Quarterly: October to December 2025, divorce — Ministry of Justice, GOV.UK
- Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, section 10 — legislation.gov.uk
- Money and property when you divorce or separate: get the court to decide — GOV.UK
- Money and property when you divorce or separate (printable guide) — GOV.UK
- How to apply for a financial order without a lawyer — Advicenow
- Practice Direction 3A, paras 1, 11–13 and 37 — justice.gov.uk · What to do before applying for a financial order when you get divorced — Advicenow
- Form A (05.26), PDF — HMCTS
- Reply to a divorce application (printable guide) — GOV.UK
- Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, section 3 — legislation.gov.uk · Get a divorce: check you can get a divorce — GOV.UK
- NICTS statistics user guide: petitions for divorce — NISRA
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