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Divorce and Privacy

Your Right to Privacy in Divorce Proceedings

Divorce proceedings are private. The details in the petition will not be published. But you will have to set out in your petition the reason for the breakdown of your marriage.

It may be that you want to divorce without laying any blame, but you can't do that until you have been separated for two years. If you want to divorce sooner than that, you will have to use either adultery or unreasonable behaviour. These are the two facts that the press call 'quickie divorces'.

It is not that they are any quicker to deal with, it is just that they do not have a time requirement before you can start. The details you plead in such a petition must necessarily lay the blame for the breakdown of your marriage on the other side, and the other side will read it. So the matter is essentially contentious.

We would advise that you keep the particulars as brief as possible, while still setting out clearly why you feel the marriage has broken down. If you have children, you should try and keep alive the possibility of an on-going relationship with your spouse as parents to your children - for the children's own sakes.

We are always willing to discuss each individual situation. Please phone Janet Hopkins or Alistair Dobson on 01858 445480 or James Haworth on 0116 212 1080 to arrange a free initial appointment.