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Family law

Civil partnership dissolution solicitors

Practical, clear support for civil partners ending their relationship, whatever the circumstances.

Book a free initial appointmentCall 01543 263 456
  • Joanne Vernon
  • Sara Anderson
  • Maisie Watts
  • Aisha Quereshi
Your family law team

In short

Dissolving a civil partnership follows the same no-fault legal process as divorce in England and Wales: you do not need to assign blame, and you can apply jointly or alone. The process takes at least 7 to 8 months from application to Final Order, and the court fee is currently £628. Ansons Law's family law solicitors guide you through the dissolution and through the financial and children's arrangements that go with it.

Shortest timescale
About 7 to 8 months, application to Final Order
Reflection period
A mandatory 20 weeks before the Conditional Order
No fault
No need to give reasons or assign blame since April 2022
Free initial appointment
Yes, with no obligation
Civil partnership dissolution Book a free initial appointment

Take legal advice before you apply for the Final Order

Dissolution ends your civil partnership, but it does not automatically resolve financial claims. Unless your finances are formally settled in a Financial Order, your former partner keeps the right to make financial claims against you even after the dissolution is finalised.

You should take legal advice before applying for the Final Order.

How does civil partnership dissolution work?

Dissolving a civil partnership follows the same legal process as divorce in England and Wales. Since the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 came into force in April 2022, civil partners can end their relationship under the same no-fault framework, without needing to assign blame or prove fault.

  • There is no requirement to give reasons or assign blame for the breakdown of the partnership. The application states that the civil partnership has irretrievably broken down.
  • You can apply jointly with your partner or alone as a sole applicant.
  • The dissolution cannot be contested. Your partner can only challenge the court's jurisdiction or the legal validity of the partnership.
  • The court fee to file is currently £628, and the process takes a minimum of 7 to 8 months from application to Final Order.
  • Financial claims are separate from the dissolution itself and must be resolved in a sealed Consent Order.
  • Arrangements for children are also dealt with separately and can be agreed directly or through mediation.

Whether your situation is straightforward or involves complex finances, property, pensions or arrangements for children, we give you the practical, honest advice you need to move forward.

How are finances divided when a civil partnership ends?

The same legal principles apply as in divorce. The court considers factors including the length of the partnership, each person's financial needs and resources, the contributions made and future earning capacity.

Pensions are treated as a matrimonial asset and must be considered alongside property and savings. They can be divided by a Pension Sharing Order, offset against other assets or made subject to an Earmarking Order.

Before you agree to anything, we help you understand what you are entitled to and what a fair settlement looks like. We make sure any agreement is recorded in a sealed Consent Order.

Can we keep things amicable and out of court?

Where you both want an amicable outcome, we work to keep things constructive and out of court. A joint application can be faster and set a more collaborative tone, which is particularly useful where you are both on reasonable terms.

Where children are involved, we make sure their best interests stay central to every decision.

Colleagues at the Ansons Law office in Cannock
What we do

What we can help with

We advise on civil partnership dissolution with the same care and depth of knowledge as divorce.
Step by step

The dissolution process, step by step

The six stages of a no-fault dissolution. The finances and the arrangements for children are dealt with alongside them.

  1. Application

    You or your partner file the dissolution application, jointly or as a sole applicant, stating that the civil partnership has irretrievably broken down. The court fee is currently £628.

  2. Acknowledgement

    In a sole application, your partner has 14 days to acknowledge receipt. They cannot contest the dissolution itself.

  3. Waiting period

    A mandatory 20-week reflection period. Use this time to agree the financial and children's arrangements.

  4. Conditional Order

    The court confirms there is no reason the dissolution should not proceed.

  5. Six-week wait

    You must wait at least six weeks and one day before applying for the Final Order.

  6. Final Order

    This legally dissolves the civil partnership. Do not apply before your financial matters are resolved.

Fees

What dissolution costs

The court fee to file a dissolution application is currently £628.

We are clear about our fees from the outset, and we give you a clear estimate before we start work.

Book a free initial appointment

The team

Your family law team

The solicitors who handle civil partnership dissolution at Ansons Law. Every card opens the person's profile.
Meet the whole team
Joanne Vernon Director, Head of Family Law Joanne Vernon Sara Anderson Associate Director Sara Anderson Maisie Watts Solicitor Maisie Watts Aisha Quereshi Solicitor Aisha Quereshi
Questions

Civil partnership dissolution questions

Is dissolving a civil partnership the same as divorce?

Largely, yes. Since April 2022, civil partnership dissolution has followed the same no-fault framework as divorce. The same stages apply: the application, a 20-week reflection period, the Conditional Order and the Final Order. The legal terminology differs slightly, but the process and timescales are effectively identical.

Do I need a solicitor to dissolve a civil partnership?

We recommend taking legal advice before you take steps to dissolve the civil partnership. This is particularly important if there is property, pensions, savings or children.

How are finances divided when a civil partnership is dissolved?

The same legal principles apply as in divorce. The court considers factors including the length of the partnership, each person's financial needs and resources, the contributions made and future earning capacity. We help you understand what a fair outcome looks like and make sure any agreement is recorded in a sealed Consent Order.

What happens to pensions when a civil partnership ends?

Pensions are treated as a matrimonial asset and must be considered alongside property and savings. They can be divided by a Pension Sharing Order, offset against other assets or made subject to an Earmarking Order.

Can we apply for dissolution jointly?

Yes. Since 2022, joint applications have been available for both divorce and civil partnership dissolution. A joint application can be faster and set a more collaborative tone, which is particularly useful where you are both on reasonable terms.

How long does civil partnership dissolution take?

At least 7 to 8 months from application to Final Order. There is a mandatory 20-week reflection period before the Conditional Order, and you must then wait at least six weeks and one day before applying for the Final Order.

Can my partner stop the dissolution?

No. The dissolution cannot be contested. Your partner can only challenge the court's jurisdiction or the legal validity of the partnership.

How much does it cost to dissolve a civil partnership?

The court fee to file the application is currently £628. We are clear about our fees from the outset and give you a clear estimate before we start work.

Accreditations and awards

Talk to a dissolution solicitor

Tell us what you need and we will put you in touch with the right person. We offer a free initial meeting so you can understand your position before committing to anything.

Call 01543 263 456
Offices

Our offices

Our family law team works from our offices across the Midlands, with appointments in person or by video. Every office can take your enquiry.
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