Civil Partnership Dissolution Lawyers in Dorset
Dissolution of a civil partnership is a very difficult and emotional time for all those concerned. This is why it is important to access good quality legal advice at an early stage. Harold G Walker Solicitors in Dorset have a team of Family Lawyers, experienced in dealing with civil partnership dissolutions and have the expertise to be able to advise you through the process. Their aim is to resolve any dispute efficiently through a collaborative approach to minimise any conflict or costly court proceedings.
To understand your options Harold G Walker offers a FREE initial 30-minute no-obligation appointment. This enables you to discuss your own situation and concerns with one of the Family Solicitors at your preferred office location; Broadstone, Christchurch, Verwood or Wimborne. They will provide you with an overview of the process and answer any questions or worries you may have. It will be very helpful if you could bring:
- Identity documents: passport/driving licence and utility bill stating name and address
- Information about your finances – joint and individual
- Pen and paper to write down notes from the meeting
- List of specific concerns that you have
There are various options available to you when resolving disputes and it is important that you are aware of all these at the outset. This way, you can choose the right way forward for you and your own situation. The options are set out below:
Reconciliation
It is important to consider the possibility of reconciliation. This can be discussed and put you in touch with recommended specialists and counsellors, who can provide counselling both for individuals and couples.
Direct Agreements
This is where you come to an agreement by talking to each other directly. Even when you are both happy with the outcome, it is vital that you instruct a solicitor to explain the agreement once agreed. The solicitor can take steps to make the agreement legally binding for you.
Mediation
You can seek the assistance of a third person to help you communicate and reach an agreement. The mediator is unable to give legal advice but can help you communicate and reach a fair settlement. Again, once an agreement is reached, a Solicitor must be instructed to take steps to make the agreement legally binding for you.
Collaborative Approach
Dealing with matters collaboratively, with solicitors trained in collaborative law. This involves a series of open discussions with everyone present and a commitment not to use the Court process.
Out-of-Court Agreement
Instructing a solicitor to pursue an out-of-court agreement with the backing of Court proceedings where necessary.
Going to Court
Instructing a solicitor to deal with proceedings at Court, where a Judge will make the final decision.
Each of the options is right for different circumstances – the specialists at Harold G Walker can explain the different approaches in detail for you and apply it to your own personal circumstances. You will then be in a position to make a well-informed decision as to the way forward.
Appoint a family lawyer to represent you on your dissolution. You will need to provide your civil partnership certificate and also make payment of the Court Fees (currently £612 from 8th April 2025).
The court will issue your dissolution application and send documents to your civil partner (known as “the Respondent”) or their solicitors, with an “Acknowledgement of Service” form.
Your civil partner (the “Respondent”), or their solicitors, will complete the Acknowledgement of Service form, stating that your dissolution application will not be disputed and submit it to the court. If the dissolution is disputed (which is rare), a hearing in court will be required, with both parties in attendance.
The court sends the Acknowledgement of Service to your lawyers.
After 20 weeks from the start of your dissolution, your family lawyer can apply for a Conditional order. The court officials will review the application for a Conditional order and provide a date when this will be granted usually a few weeks later.
On the set date, a Conditional order for dissolution is granted. No one needs to attend the Court. When a Conditional order for dissolution has been granted, you are still in a civil partnership but a Financial order can now be made.
After 6 weeks from the grant of a Conditional order, an application for a Financial order can be submitted. However, this might be delayed if Financial matters have not been finalised.
After the Financial order for Dissolution has been granted, it is then appropriate to apply to finalise your dissolution (although you might need to delay the application for the Final Order for Dissolution for up to 28 days if there is to be pension sharing).
Where children are involved, hopefully an agreement can be reached between the parents. The agreement would include, for example, who the children are to live with and what the arrangements are for contact with the other parent.
However, should the parents not agree on these arrangements, or should the Court have concerns about the children’s welfare, then the Court will need to become involved. This may involve one or both parents applying for the children to live with them (Residence) or have contact with them.
The Dissolution Order officially ends the civil partnership between the parties, but it does not dismiss the potential financial claims that they have against each other, or sort out where the parties are going to live. This obviously needs to be dealt with. Decisions will need to be made on property, pension and maintenance issues. This can include whether or not the property will be sold and if not, who is going to live in it and whether or not, maintenance will be paid to the other party and the children.
Both you and your partner must disclose your income and assets to each other. This ensures that everything is taken into account and nothing is concealed. Once an agreement is reached regarding the financial division and any future arrangements, the solicitors draft a Consent Order which is signed by both you and your partner and sent to the Court for the District Judge to approve.
If a figure for child maintenance cannot be agreed, then it will be necessary to apply to the Child Maintenance Service (formerly the Child Support Agency) for an assessment.