Divorce after 5 years separation
Five years' separation was the old route to divorce without your spouse's consent. It has been abolished. You can apply now under the no-fault process, whether or not your spouse agrees.
CalmSplit prepares your application for a one-off £159 and is designed so one person can complete everything alone.
- The five-year ground ended with the no-fault reforms
- Your spouse cannot block the divorce by refusing consent
- Long separations often need a financial order too
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.
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For decades, five years apart was the only way to divorce without the other person's agreement. Many people still assume they must wait. They do not.
What to do after a long separation
- Apply for the divorce now, alone if necessary
- Trace your marriage certificate details, or order a replacement copy
- Consider a clean break order so financial claims cannot resurface
- Check how you will serve your spouse if their address has changed
Financial claims do not expire with time
Being separated for years does not close financial claims between spouses. A court-approved financial order is what brings certainty.
Frequently asked questions
Related CalmSplit pages
Check suitability
The law changed. Start free and pay £159 when you prepare your application.
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