Divorce in 2025: What You Need to Know

 

... but recent updates to divorce laws in England aim to make the process smoother, clearer, and fairer - especially for children. With no-fault divorce now fixed in place, 2025 brings even more changes that focus on transparency, simplification, and protecting people in difficult situations.

 

Here’s an easy 5-point guide outlining what’s new and what it means for you.

 

Family court cases have traditionally been private, but from January 2025, journalists are allowed to report on family law cases - including divorce – providing the identity of those involved remains anonymous.

 

Why does this matter? Despite previous resistance to transparency, this ‘watershed change’ is expected to help the public better understand how courts make decisions about things like money, property, and child arrangements. It also serves to hold the system accountable and build trust in how the law works.

 

Previously, if you’d been married for less than two years, you had to jump through extra hoops to get a divorce - like filing additional paperwork or requesting court permission.

 

That’s no longer the case. Thanks to further changes brought in by the Family Law Amendment Act 2024, all divorcing couples now follow the same process, regardless of how long they were married. You’ll still need to be separated for at least 12 months and one day before applying, but the process is now simpler and more consistent for everyone.

 

An example of coercive control, financial control is now officially recognised as a form of domestic abuse under UK law. This means if one partner controls the finances or uses money to restrict their partner’s freedom (e.g. cutting off access to funds or making all the financial decisions), it will be taken seriously in court.

 

This is a significant change. Courts will now consider financial abuse when deciding how to split money or property, ensuring a fairer outcome for individuals who’ve been financially manipulated or maltreated during the relationship.

 

Financial settlements - how money, property, assets and pensions are divided - are often the trickiest part of divorce. In 2024 the Law Commission published their report following the review of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, which governs marriage and divorce law in the UK and Wales. 

 

Current laws are considered outdated and don’t appropriately reflect modern life, particularly in cases involving complex finances or high-value assets.

 

The review looked at how contributions to a marriage are valued, how long-term needs are considered, and how assets should be split; concluding that the laws dealing with financial settlements on divorce need to be reformed. 

 

Whilst the government considers the report’s findings, for now, courts still require full financial disclosure from both parties. But expect more changes in the near future – watch this space!

 

Following what was considered a rare case in 2018, described as the most significant divorce case of the century, no-fault divorce was introduced in 2022 as a part of the groundbreaking Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 and remains an important part of the system in 2025. 

No-fault divorce allows couples to separate without blaming each other, which helps reduce emotional stress and conflict.

 

Here’s how it works:

 

• You apply online, stating the marriage has broken down.

• There’s a 20-week “cooling-off” period to reflect and make arrangements.

• Following this, there’s a further six-week wait before the divorce is finalised.

 

This approach gives both parties time to discuss and plan things like living arrangements, finances, and child arrangements calmly and fairly.

 

Let’s break it down:

 

✅ Less Stressful Divorce: No-fault divorce should reduce blame and arguments.

✅ Fairer Outcomes: Courts now recognise financial abuse and will factor it into settlements.

✅ Simpler Process: Short marriages no longer face extra steps when applying for divorce.

✅ More Support for Kids: Courts are putting children’s needs at the heart of their decisions.

✅ Increased Clarity: Media access (with privacy protections) means more transparency about how decisions are made.

 

Going through a divorce is never easy, but you don’t have to face it alone. Whether you’re just thinking about separation, worried about your finances, or trying to agree on child arrangements, we’re here to help.

 

📞 Call us on 01606 48777, or

🌐 Click for details of FREE initial consultations and FIXED FEE appointments.

 

At Susan Howarth & Co Solicitors, we believe in clear, compassionate advice and practical, realistic support to help you move forward with confidence.