Civil Partnership Dissolution in England and Wales: Step-by-Step Guide for 2025

This guide explains how to end (“dissolve”) a civil partnership in England and Wales. It covers who can apply, how the process works, typical timelines, costs, and what to do about children, money, and property.

At a glance

You can apply online or by post, alone or together.
The fee to start the process is £612.
There is a built-in timeline: a 20-week reflection period, then a 6-week gap before the final step.
Most straightforward cases take around 6 months from application to final order.

Can you apply to end your civil partnership?

Minimum length: You must have been in the civil partnership for more than 1 year before applying. If it’s been less, consider a legal separation.
Where this guide applies: England & Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland use different procedures and forms.
No-fault system: You don’t need to give reasons or prove blame. You simply state the partnership has irretrievably broken down.

How the process works

Ending a civil partnership happens in stages:

Apply (sole or joint, online or by post).
20-week reflection period to consider arrangements and ensure you still want to proceed.
Conditional order (the court confirms there’s no reason not to end the partnership).
6-week waiting period.
Final order (your civil partnership is legally ended).

You do not normally attend court for the dissolution itself. Hearings are more common if there is a dispute, or for financial or child arrangements that need a judge’s decision.

Step-by-step (with timelines)

1) Decide: sole or joint application

Joint applications suit couples who can cooperate. Sole applications are best if you expect delays or conflict, or if there are safety concerns. If you start jointly and cooperation breaks down, it’s possible to continue as a sole applicant.

2) Apply online or by post

Online: Fastest for most people. You’ll need a bank card to pay the fee and your partner’s current address (or their solicitor’s details).
By post: Use form D8 (Application for a divorce or dissolution) and post it to the HMCTS Divorce and Dissolution Service.

Cost: £612 to start the case. If you’re on a low income or certain benefits, check Help with Fees (fee remission).

3) Court “issues” your application

Once the court issues your application, the case is officially underway and your partner is served (notified). If you don’t have a current address for them, the court may allow another method (for example, service by email or through someone else). Keep an eye on messages from the online service and any letters sent to you.

4) The 20-week reflection period

This period starts after your application is issued. Use it to:

Work out a parenting plan if you have children (where they live, time with each parent, school holidays, and special days).
Gather documents for financial disclosure (payslips, bank statements, mortgage details, pension values).
Explore mediation to avoid court where possible, unless there are safety issues.

5) Apply for a conditional order

After 20 weeks, you can ask the court for a conditional order. If there’s an objection or a legal issue, the court might list a short hearing. Otherwise, it’s usually a paperwork step.

6) Wait 6 weeks

Once the conditional order is granted, there is a 6-week gap before you can apply for the final order. If your partner secured the conditional order and you want to apply for the final order instead of them, you must wait 3 months and 6 weeks.

7) Apply for the final order

When the final order is made, your civil partnership is legally ended. Keep the document safe. You’ll need it for admin such as changing records, proving your status, or remarrying/entering a new civil partnership.

Children and parenting

The dissolution itself does not decide arrangements for children. You have three broad options:

Agree between yourselves: Write a simple plan covering living arrangements, weekly routines, travel, holidays, birthdays, and communication.
Mediation: A neutral mediator helps you reach an agreement. Mediation is usually quicker and cheaper than court. It can be online or in person.
Court order: If you can’t agree, or there are safety concerns, the court can make a child arrangements order. Decisions are based on the child’s best interests.

Child maintenance: You can agree an amount privately, or ask the Child Maintenance Service to calculate what should be paid.

Money, home, pensions, and debts

Ending the civil partnership does not automatically sort out finances. To make an agreement binding, you need a financial order from the court. There are two routes:

Consent order: You both agree the terms; the court approves them. This is the usual route if you’ve reached a fair settlement.
Contested application: If you can’t agree, you ask the court to decide. You normally attend a MIAM (Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting) first, unless an exemption applies (for example, domestic abuse).

What can be included:

Property: sale or transfer of the family home; one partner buying the other out; occupation of the home.
Cash and investments: savings, ISAs, shares, cryptoassets where relevant.
Pensions: pension sharing or offsetting. Get up-to-date valuations.
Debts: how to deal with loans, credit cards, and overdrafts.
Maintenance: ongoing payments in limited circumstances (amount and duration depend on needs and means).

Timing tip: Try to sort out finances between the conditional order and the final order. Some rights—especially around pensions and survivorship—can change once the final order is made.

How judges approach finances: Courts aim for fairness and meeting needs, with first consideration for children. They look at income, earning capacity, property, pensions, debts, ages, health, housing needs, and contributions. Where possible, they aim for a clean break so you can move on without ongoing financial ties.

Costs and ways to reduce them

Application fee: £612 to start the dissolution.
Financial order fees: If you ask the court to decide finances (contested route), there’s a separate court fee. If you submit a consent order, a different fee applies. Check current amounts before filing.
Help with Fees: If your income and savings are low, you may get a partial or full reduction. Apply at the same time as your application. Each fee needs its own application.
Legal and mediation costs: These vary. Some people use fixed-fee legal advice for key steps and handle the rest themselves. Limited legal aid may be available, especially where there is domestic abuse or risk of homelessness.

Cutting costs:

Get organised: collect statements, valuations, and key dates early.
Use mediation where safe and suitable.
Focus on needs and practical outcomes, not point-scoring.
Limit back-and-forth emails with clear lists and deadlines.

Documents you’ll need

Civil partnership certificate (or details if applying online).
D8 form if applying by post.
Financial disclosure if seeking a financial order: bank statements, payslips, tax returns, mortgage statements, pension values, investment summaries, debt balances.
ID and address details requested by the service.
Any previous court orders relevant to children or finances.

If you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland

This guide is for England & Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules, forms, fees, and court processes. If you live there, follow the guidance specific to your nation.

Frequently asked questions

Do we have to give a reason?

No. You don’t need to prove fault. A statement that the partnership has irretrievably broken down is enough.

How long will it take?

Most cases take at least six months because of the 20-week reflection period and the 6-week gap after the conditional order. Admin times vary.

What if my partner doesn’t cooperate?

You can apply as a sole applicant. The case can progress even if the other person doesn’t take part, although additional steps may be needed to prove they were served.

Will I need to attend court?

Not usually for the dissolution itself. You may have a hearing if there’s a dispute or if you ask the court to decide finances or child arrangements.

What is a conditional order?

A court confirmation that there’s no reason not to end the civil partnership. It comes after the 20-week reflection period.

What is a final order?

The legal document that ends your civil partnership. You can normally apply 6 weeks after the conditional order (or 3 months and 6 weeks if your partner obtained the conditional order and you are applying instead).

Do we need a financial order if we already agree?

Yes, if you want your agreement to be legally binding and enforceable. Without a court-approved consent order, future claims can remain open.

What if I don’t know where my partner lives?

Tell the court. You can ask for permission to serve documents another way, such as by email or to an alternative address.

Can I remarry or form a new civil partnership afterwards?

Yes. Once the final order is granted, you’re free to marry or enter another civil partnership. Keep the final order safe for future proof.

Checklist

Confirm you’ve been in the civil partnership for over 1 year.
Decide whether to apply jointly or as a sole applicant.
Apply online or by post and pay the fee (check Help with Fees if eligible).
During the 20-week reflection period, sort out parenting and finances; consider mediation.
Apply for the conditional order.
Use the 6-week gap to finalise any consent order about finances.
Apply for the final order and store it securely.
Update your will, beneficiaries, and official records.

Common mistakes to avoid

Assuming dissolution ends financial claims: It doesn’t. You need a consent order or a financial order to close claims.
Leaving pensions to the last minute: Pension sharing takes time; get valuations early and consider advice from a regulated financial adviser.
Finalising before sorting finances: Some rights change after the final order, so plan the timing carefully.
Using old contact details: Make sure the court and your partner’s side have up-to-date addresses and emails to avoid delays.
Not applying for Help with Fees: If eligible, apply at the same time as each court fee.

Where to get help

Official guidance and online application: Government service for ending a civil partnership (England & Wales).
Finances after separation: Guidance on financial orders, mediation, and consent orders.
Help with Fees: Check eligibility and apply for fee remission.
Citizens Advice: Free, impartial guidance on separation, money, and housing.
Legal advice: Fixed-fee consultations can help you sense-check your plan or draft a consent order.

Example timeline (uncontested)

Week 0: Apply online or by post; pay £612.
Weeks 1–20: Reflection period. Work on parenting plans, gather financial documents, try mediation.
Week 20: Apply for a conditional order.
Weeks 21–26: 6-week gap. Finalise consent order about finances if you’ve agreed.
Week 26+: Apply for the final order. The civil partnership ends when the court grants it.

Plain-English glossary

Applicant: The person applying to end the civil partnership (there can be two applicants in a joint case).
Issue (an application): When the court officially starts your case.
Conditional order: Court confirmation that there’s no reason not to end the partnership.
Final order: The order that legally ends the civil partnership.
MIAM: Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting—often required before asking the court to decide finances if you can’t agree.
Consent order: A binding court order that records an agreed financial settlement.
Clean break: A financial outcome where there are no ongoing financial ties.