Will my spouse know I have applied?

Yes. The court must serve the application on them so they have the chance to acknowledge it. Their address and contact details are needed for this.

Can we switch from sole to joint?

A joint application can be switched to sole, and in practice couples who start sole often continue that way. CalmSplit works either way.

What does CalmSplit cost?

£159 per person as a one-off payment. The HMCTS divorce court fee of £628 is paid separately to the court, and you may be able to apply for Help with Fees.

How long will it take?

The statutory minimum is 26 weeks from the court accepting your application to the final order. Preparing your application with CalmSplit usually takes under an hour of your time.

Sole divorce application

Written by CalmSplit Editorial TeamReviewed by Ramani GillLast reviewed 13 August 2026England & Wales

A sole application is made by one spouse on their own. Your spouse is sent the application as the respondent and must acknowledge it, but they do not have to agree to the divorce.

CalmSplit is built solo-first: one person can complete the whole journey alone. Inviting your spouse is optional and only offered later.

You can start today without your spouse
Your spouse cannot defend the divorce on the basis they disagree
£159 one-off per person, court fee paid separately
Switch to a joint application later if you both prefer

CalmSplit fee

£159one-off, per person

One-off CalmSplit fee. HMCTS court fees are paid separately to the court.

Start your own application

You do not need your spouse's involvement to begin. £159 one-off when you continue.

See how it works

How a sole application works

You apply as the applicant and your spouse becomes the respondent
HMCTS serves the application on your spouse, usually by email and post
Your spouse files an acknowledgement of service confirming they received it
After 20 weeks you apply for the conditional order
6 weeks and a day later you apply for the final order

Sole or joint: which to choose

Choose sole if you want to control the timing, or if your spouse is unlikely to engage
Choose sole if communication is difficult or you would rather keep contact minimal
Choose joint if you are on good terms and want to apply together as equals
A joint application cannot be used where there is any safety concern

If your spouse does not respond

The divorce is not blocked. If your spouse does not return the acknowledgement of service, you can apply to the court for alternative service, deemed service or dispensing with service, supported by evidence that they received the application. It adds time and there may be extra court fees, but the divorce can still proceed.

Frequently asked questions

No. Under the no-fault law your spouse cannot contest the divorce simply because they do not want it. They can only dispute on limited grounds such as jurisdiction or the validity of the marriage.

Related CalmSplit pages

Spouse will not cooperateWhat to do if they refuse to engage.Online divorceThe main CalmSplit divorce service.When you both agreeThe simplest and quickest route.

Start your own application

You do not need your spouse's involvement to begin. £159 one-off when you continue.

Start free