Divorce after 1 year separation
There is no one-year separation requirement. The only one-year rule is that you must have been married for at least a year before you can apply. Time spent apart is irrelevant to the application.
CalmSplit checks your eligibility in a few free questions, then prepares your divorce application for a one-off £159.
- The one-year rule applies to the marriage, not the separation
- No separation period is required at all
- You can apply on your own or together
One-off CalmSplit fee. HMCTS court fees are paid separately to the court.
Check suitabilityThe law changed. Start free and pay £159 when you prepare your application.
See how it worksWhere the confusion comes from
People often mix up two rules: the requirement to have been married at least a year, and the separation periods that existed under the pre-2022 law. Only the first still applies.
The current requirements
- Married for at least one year
- A sufficient connection with England and Wales
- A statement that the marriage has broken down irretrievably
- A marriage recognised as valid here
What happens after you apply
There is a 20-week reflection period before you can apply for the Conditional Order, then a minimum of six weeks and a day before the Final Order. Most straightforward cases take around six to eight months.
Frequently asked questions
Related CalmSplit pages
Check suitability
The law changed. Start free and pay £159 when you prepare your application.
Start free