What are the stages in a divorce?

The divorce process in England and Wales has 5 main stages which are as follows:

The first stage is when the divorce process begins with the filing of a divorce application either on a sole or joint basis.

The second stage is where the Respondent is given 14 days to respond to the Divorce Application by returning an Acknowledgment of Service form.

The mandatory 20-week cooling off period is the third stage in the divorce process.

After 20 weeks has elapsed it is possible to move onto the fourth stage and apply for a Conditional Order. The Conditional Order confirms that a person is entitled to a divorce, but they still must wait at least 6 weeks and 1 day before they can apply for the Final Order to end their marriage.

The fifth stage is reached once at least 6 weeks and 1 day has elapsed. At this point the Final Divorce Order can be pronounced. Once granted, the divorce or dissolution is final and cannot be undone.