Divorce Dictionary

Divorce petition form.

Final stage of the divorce process, enabling the parties to re-marry.

Preliminary stage of the divorce process.

Order by which the Court declares that service of the petition has been made on the respondent.

Pattern of contact defined by a detailed schedule in order to eliminate the chances of misunderstanding and dispute.

Person who gives evidence by affidavit, affirmation or deposition.

One of the five facts that can be used as the basis for a divorce. Desertion refers to the situation where one spouse has abandoned the other spouse, often their whereabouts is unknown. It is one of the less common grounds for divorce.

Administrative hub to which initial applications are made and where hearings take place.

Instruction by a judge contained within an order for someone to do something.

Hearing at which the judge makes directions.

Costs charged by a solicitor to cover payments to third parties.

Process of revealing confidential documents and information to the Court and to other parties.

Officer of the court who deals with applications to initiate children proceedings in which there is some complexity.

One of eleven regional centres which deal with divorce petitions.

This is when you manage your own divorce. This typically means completing the court forms yourself and communicating with the court throughout the process - whether as the applicant or the respondent in a divorce.