Divorce timeline 2026 — 20 weeks to conditional order, 6 weeks to final order
REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-30
Since the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 took effect (6 April 2022), every divorce and civil partnership dissolution in England and Wales follows one fixed statutory timetable with two built-in waiting periods. This guide lays out the stages and the current fees. It is general information, not legal advice.
The stages and statutory waits
| Stage | What happens | Minimum wait | |---|---|---| | 1. Application (D8) | You apply (sole or joint) on the no-fault basis of irretrievable breakdown; fee £628 | — | | 2. Issue & acknowledgement | The court issues the application; a sole respondent has 14 days to acknowledge | — | | 3. Conditional order | You apply for the conditional order (formerly decree nisi) — form D84 | 20 weeks from issue | | 4. Final order | You apply to make the divorce final (form D36) | 6 weeks and 1 day from the conditional order |
The 20-week wait
You cannot apply for a conditional order until at least 20 weeks and 1 day after the court issued your application. This reflects Parliament's intention that divorce should be a considered process, giving a reflection period.
The 6-week wait
After the conditional order, you must wait at least 43 days (6 weeks and 1 day) before applying for the final order, which legally ends the marriage. You must apply within 12 months of the conditional order — otherwise you must explain the delay to the court.
Practical notes on timing
- Most uncontested divorces complete in around 6–8 months in practice, driven mainly by the two statutory waits plus administrative processing time
- The minimum legally possible is roughly 7 months (20 weeks + 6 weeks + processing)
- You don't need the final order to sort out finances — but you should not remarry until it's granted, and (importantly) once you remarry you can lose the right to bring certain financial claims against your ex-spouse. Ask a solicitor or mediator about a consent order before applying for final order if finances aren't settled
- A joint application can be continued to conditional order by either party alone if the relationship changes
Current fees (from 13 July 2026)
| Item | Fee | |---|---| | Divorce / dissolution application (D8) | £628 | | Application for matrimonial/civil partnership order (e.g. financial orders in some routes) | £426 | | Consent order application (with D81) | £62 | | Application to vary such an application | £61 | | Answer (contesting) | £240 |
Help with Fees (EX160) can reduce or waive these if you're on a low income or qualifying benefits — see our dedicated guide.
What doesn't change
- The only ground is irretrievable breakdown of the marriage — you don't allege misconduct; you make a statement that the marriage has broken down
- Financial remedies and children arrangements are entirely separate processes — the divorce itself deals only with the legal status of the marriage
- Judicial separation remains available for those who don't want to end the marriage
Official links
- Apply for a divorce (gov.uk, step by step)
- Apply for a conditional order (gov.uk)
- Finalise your divorce (gov.uk)
- Form D84 (gov.uk)
- Court and tribunal fees: July 2026 updates (gov.uk)
YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory — we are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to HMCTS or gov.uk. This page is general information and is not legal advice.
Content verified against the official HMCTS court directory, gov.uk forms and fees pages, and the professional body registers (SRA, FMC, Bar Council). Last reviewed September 2026.