Solicitors in Putney and Chiswick
Divorce & Dissolution of Civil Partnerships
 
Divorce & Dissolution of Civil Partnerships
If your civil partnership has broken down, our civil partnership dissolution solicitors can advise you on the next steps, to include dealing with issues such as property, finance and arrangements for children.

Our family law team are friendly and approachable and have decades of experience in dealing with all aspects of relationship breakdown, including in complex cases and for high net worth clients.

We are members of the family law group Resolution, which is committed to a constructive approach to the legal issues surrounding family and relationship breakdown. We are often able to resolve matters for our clients without the need for court hearings, which is usually faster and more cost-effective. 

Our team have expertise across all areas of civil partnership law, to include the following:
• Applying for dissolution of civil partnership
• Negotiating arrangements for children on civil partnership dissolution
• Financial settlements on civil partnership dissolution
• Dealing with property claims in civil partnership dissolution
• Child maintenance payments in civil partnership dissolution

Contact our SW15 solicitors for civil partnership dissolution advice.

If you would like to speak to an expert civil partnership solicitor, ring us on 020 7924 2919, email us at reception@gibsonyoungsolicitors.com or fill out our Contact Form.

For information about our related services, see our family and matrimonial page.

How our SW15 lawyers can help with civil partnership dissolution.

It is important when dealing with the dissolution of a civil partnership that other issues are dealt with at the same time. It is often advisable to make a financial agreement and put arrangements for children in place before the dissolution is finalised.

We can advise you of the best way to proceed to ensure that your rights and interests are protected. Where necessary, we can negotiate on your behalf to agree on matters such as where your children will live, what will happen to a shared home and how assets will be divided.

Our team understand how difficult the breakdown of a relationship is and we will deal with your case sympathetically and ensure that we are available to answer any questions you may have. We know that uncertainty over issues such as finances and children can be very stressful and we will do all we can to settle matters without delay. 

Civil partnership dissolution FAQs

What does dissolution of civil partnership mean?
The dissolution of a civil partnership is the ending of the legal relationship, similar to a divorce. It is granted by the court in a two-stage process.

What are the grounds for dissolution of civil partnership?
There is a single ground for dissolution of a civil partnership, namely irretrievable breakdown of the relationship. There are four ways in which this can be demonstrated:
• Unreasonable behaviour
• Separation for two years, where both partners consent to the dissolution
• Separation for five years, where only one party wants a dissolution
• Separation for five years.

What is the dissolution of civil partnership process?
One party will need to make an application for dissolution of the civil partnership by filing a petition with the court. This cannot be done until at least a year after the date of the civil partnership. The application is then served on the other party, who should acknowledge receipt and who will have the opportunity to defend the process.

If the other party does not object, then the court will generally make a conditional order of dissolution, which is the first step.

Six weeks and one day after the date of the conditional order, an application can be made for a final order, which is the second stage of the process.

If your partner contests your application for a dissolution, then there will be a court hearing at which a family court judge will decide whether or not to grant your request. If it is declined, you will be given the reasons behind this and what steps to take next, for example, providing further information for a second hearing.

Can I make an application for dissolution of civil partnership without a financial agreement?
It is important to address financial issues at the time of dissolution. This is because, without a financial order in place, it would be open to your partner to make a claim against you at some date in the future, as there is no deadline for this unless a final order is made.

We can negotiate with your partner’s solicitor on your behalf to try and agree a financial settlement. Where agreement cannot be reached, we can support you through the mediation process to try and find a resolution without the need for a court hearing.

If an agreement is still not possible, we will prepare a robust case on your behalf and ensure that you have expert representation at court.

What will a financial agreement on dissolution of civil partnership contain?
A financial agreement in civil partnership dissolution will deal with all of your financial matters, to include division of property, sharing of other assets, capital or lump sum payments, payment of maintenance and sharing of pensions.

What will I be awarded on the dissolution of my civil partnership?
If the court is asked to decide matters, it will try to divide assets fairly between you both. This does not necessarily mean an equal division however, and issues such as whether one party is in a weaker financial position, for example, because of child care duties, will be taken into account.

Where there is a shared home, the court may award this to the partner who is taking on the main child care role, if there are children. The other party could have a lump sum or pension entitlement to make up for this, or alternatively, the court may order that the property be sold once the youngest child reaches 18.

How can I deal with arrangements for children in civil partnership dissolution?
A child arrangements order will set out details of issues such as where your children will live, how often they will spend with their other parent and how they will stay in contact with their parents while they are apart.

We can negotiate this with your child’s other parent and where agreement cannot be reached, the next step is generally mediation. 

Once an agreement has been reached, this can be put before the court and sealed into a binding child arrangements order. For more information, see Child arrangements. 

Contact our expert London civil partnership dissolution solicitors SW15.

At Gibson Young Solicitors, we offer both legal expertise and outstanding client service. We are friendly and approachable and our civil partnership dissolution advice is clear and straightforward. 

If you would like to speak to an expert civil partnership dissolution lawyer, ring us on 020 7924 2919, email us at reception@gibsonyoungsolicitors.com or fill out our Contact Form. All initial enquiries are free of charge and without any obligation.

Putney Office: 1 & 2 Crescent Stables, 139 Upper Richmond Road, Putney, London SW15 2TN
The Scales of Justice

We believe in dispute resolution

In a majority of these cases a positive outcome is achieved by negotiation between solicitors and agreement between the parties. We can advise you on your rights and chances of success and the possible value of a claim. We emphasis negotiation and agreement rather than conflict and confrontation in the application of the principles of law to the special circumstances of each individual case.

Please contact us or call us 020 7924 2919, if you would like to discuss your matter further. All initial enquiries are completely free of charge and without any obligation.
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