What is the process from the start to the divorce Hearing?
The divorce process can be broken down into the following steps:
- Taking initial instructions.
- Drafting a Divorce Petition and accompanying forms.
- Divorce Papers are sent to the Court to be stamped.
- Divorce Papers are returned from the court and then sent to the Respondent.
- Divorce Papers are completed by the Respondent and returned to the Matrimonial office in the High Court
- A Certificate of Readiness is then lodged with the Court so that the matter can be set down for hearing.
- A Decree Nisi hearing takes place. The Respondent does not need to attend this hearing unless they are contesting the divorce.
- The Petitioner attends the Decree Nisi hearing with Counsel and/or their Solicitor. They take the Oath and confirm the details of the Petition. Then the Decree Nisi is granted.