Divorce
Expert Civil Partnership Dissolution Solicitors.
Our team of reputable solicitors have a unique understanding of the complexities of civil partnership dissolution. We are here to help guide you through the process with empathy and expertise.

A breakdown of a relationship, whether it is a marriage or a civil partnership, can be very stressful and overwhelming, and it is very common to not know how to start the process of a Civil Partnership Dissolution.
Whilst similar to a divorce, a dissolution is a process that is exclusive to a civil partnership and is the process of ending a civil partnership. A civil partnership dissolution generally provides both parties with the same entitlements as people who are in a marriage, getting divorced.
The combined years of experience and level of expertise of the team at Grant Stephens Family Law makes our firm the perfect firm to advise you through the process of applying for a dissolution of your civil partnership and help you to understand and work through any complexities that your situation may have.
Your local civil partnership dissolution solicitors
With offices in both Cardiff and Swansea, our expert team are perfectly situated to support clients across Wales and beyond. Grant Stephens Family Law is one of the leading family law firms in Wales and every member of the team goes above and beyond to support all of our clients with compassion, empathy and expertise.
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How long does the civil partnership dissolution process take?
The length of a dissolution varies depending on its complexity. Cases where there are complexities such as multi-jurisdictions and multiple assets can extend the process.
Opting for court alternative options such as mediation or collaborative law may expedite a resolution and lead to a more amicable and quicker outcome.
If you are interested in finding out more about the benefits of mediation, read about it here: The top 5 benefits of family mediation
If you want to find out more about whether collaborative law might be the best option for you, read about it here: Is collaborative law the right process for my divorce?
How to apply for a civil partnership dissolution:
– Step 1
Seek legal advice
While not mandatory, instructing a solicitor will take the weight off of your shoulders. Your solicitor will be able to advise and guide you through every step of the process.
– Step 2
The Application
You can either apply for a dissolution with your civil partner jointly, or as a sole applicant (on your own).
– Step 3
Submission of the application
To submit the application to dissolve the civil partnership, you will have to pay a standard court fee of £612. Some applicants may be entitled to help with the court fee, which can be explored further on the UK government website.
You can either submit the dissolution application through the post, or online. The court will then consider the dissolution application and issue it. If the application is a sole application, your civil partner (who will be listed as the respondent) will have to acknowledge the dissolution application.
– Step 4
Conditional Order
Once the court has issued the dissolution application, you will have to wait a period of 20 weeks before getting to the second stage of the dissolution.
After waiting through the 20 week ‘cooling’ period and if the other party has responded to the dissolution application, you will be able to apply for a conditional order. This is the second stage of the dissolution.
– Step 5
Final Order Application
Once the conditional order has been granted, you will have to wait a further 6 weeks before applying for the final order.
Once granted, the final order legally ends your civil partnership.
Ready to book your initial consultation?
We offer an initial consultation where the first 30 minutes are free. Fill out the form and one of the members of our team will be in touch
Who can apply for a civil partnership dissolution?
Anyone who is in a civil partnership, can apply for a dissolution providing that:
- You have been in the civil partnership for at least 1 year
- You and/or your ex partner are habitually resident or domiciled in the UK.*
*In order to apply for a civil partnership dissolution in the UK, there are certain residency requirements that you must meet.
For dissolution (as with divorce), the court’s jurisdiction can be founded on a range of connecting factors, commonly including:
- Both parties habitually resident in England and Wales; or
- One party habitually resident in England and Wales (with additional timing requirements in some scenarios; or
- Domicile of one or both parties in England and Wales.
If one or both parties live outside of the UK, it can make the process more complicated, but our solicitors are able to assist with more complex, multi-jurisdictional elements of a civil partnership dissolution. You can read more about international divorce and dissolution, here: International divorce
Civil Partnership Dissolution and Finances
Dividing finances can be one of the more complex aspects of a dissolution, but our solicitors have a high level of expertise to deal with your matter, no matter how complex.
When do you apply for a financial settlement?
Your solicitor will help you finalise a financial settlement whilst you are going through the dissolution process. To finalise your dissolution, it is strongly advisable to have an agreed financial settlement order, which is approved by the court.
When should you get advice?
It is beneficial to get advice from a solicitor as early as possible during the dissolution process. Whilst you can apply for a dissolution and financial settlement independently, an experienced solicitor will able to guide you through and ensure that you get the best possible outcome.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is a dissolution the same as a divorce?
The process of applying for a divorce and a dissolution is very similar and both processes legally end a relationship. However, a divorce is the legal ending of a marriage and a dissolution is the legal ending of a civil partnership.
Can both me and my ex partner use the same solicitor during our dissolution?
As with any family law matter, both you and your ex partner should seek your own, independent legal advice.
Some firms offer a new form of dispute resolution called ‘one lawyer, two clients’. This method is similar to collaborative law, but instead of two separate solicitors, both parties will instruct the same solicitor to use this method.
This form of dispute resolution is not widely used at the moment, and Grant Stephens Family Law do not offer this service.
Do we need to live apart before dissolving the partnership?
Every clients situation is different. Whilst the majority of clients will not live together after they separate, some people will remain living together. There is no legal requirement to not live together before you begin the dissolution process.
What happens to the family home after a civil partnership dissolution?
If the home was bought in joint names, then there are a few options that will be considered when determining what the financial settlement should be.
- Both parties might agree to sell the home and the money from that sale will be split between both you and your ex partner.
- One party in the dissolution could take full ownership of the property. To do this, they would have to purchase the other party’s share of the family home.
- You can maintain joint ownership of the family home, with the agreement that one person remains in the home until any children reach a certain age.
To read more about dividing the family home during a separation, read our article here: What happens to the family home when you get divorced?
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