You must decide whether you want to make a joint application with your partner or whether you want to apply on your own. It normally takes at least 6 months to end a civil partnership. This is the same for joint and sole applications. Making a joint application with your partner You can make a joint application if both of the following apply: you both agree that you should end your civil partnership you’re not at risk of domestic abuse You’ll need to decide if you want to apply online or by post. Your partner needs to use the same application method. You’ll both have to separately confirm that you want to continue with the application at each stage of the process. If your partner stops responding, you’ll be able to continue with the application as a sole applicant. If you want to apply for help with paying the fee , both of you must be eligible to qualify. Applying to end a civil partnership on your own Make a sole application if either of the following apply: your partner does not agree to end the civil partnership you do not think your partner will cooperate or respond to notifications from the court You will need to confirm you want to continue with the application at each stage of the process.

You can apply to end a civil partnership online or by post. It costs £593. It normally takes at least 6 months. You’ll be asked for the current address of your civil partner so the court can send them a copy of the application. Find out what to do if you do not know your partner’s address . Apply online You can apply to end a civil partnership online. Apply now or continue an application You’ll need a debit or credit card to apply. Apply by post Fill in a dissolution application form . You can get help filling in the form at a Citizens Advice office. Send a copy of the form to: HMCTS Divorce and Dissolution service PO Box 13226 Harlow CM20 9UG Keep your own copy of the form. How to pay You can either pay by: debit or credit card - HM Courts and Tribunals Service ( HMCTS ) will call or email you with details of how to pay cheque - made payable to ‘HM Courts and Tribunals Service’

Apply for a conditional order

A conditional order is a document that says the court does not see any reason why you cannot end the civil partnership. If your partner does not agree to end the civil partnership, you can still apply for a conditional order. You’ll have to go to a hearing at the court to discuss the case, where a judge will decide whether to grant you the conditional order. How to apply How you apply for a conditional order depends on when the court issued the application for ending your civil partnership. If the court issued your application before 6 April 2022 Fill in the application for a conditional order . You must wait at least 7 days after your civil partner has received their copy of the dissolution application. If your partner does not agree to end the civil partnership, fill in section B of the form, saying you want a ‘case management hearing’ before the judge. You also need to fill in a statement confirming that what you said in your dissolution application is true . There are 4 statement forms - use the one that covers the reason you’ve given for ending the civil partnership The forms will need to show your civil partner: has received the dissolution application agrees to the dissolution if you’re using the fact that you’ve been living apart for 2 years as your reason agrees with any arrangement proposed for children Attach your civil partner’s response to the dissolution application, and send it to the court. Keep your own copy. If the court issued your application on or after 6 April 2022 You must wait 20 weeks after your application to end your civil partnership has been issued before applying for a conditional order. If you applied to end your civil partnership online, you’ll be told how to apply for the conditional order online. You can apply for a conditional order and continue ending your civil partnership as a sole applicant, even if you started the process jointly with your civil partner. To apply by post, fill in the application for a conditional order .

Apply for a final order

The final order is the legal document that ends your civil partnership. You have to wait 6 weeks after the date of the conditional order to apply for a final order. If your civil partner applied for a conditional order, you have to wait 3 months and 6 weeks after the date of the conditional order. Apply within 12 months of getting the conditional order - otherwise you will have to explain the delay to the court. If you want a legally binding arrangement for dividing money and property you must apply to the court for this before you apply for a final order. How to apply How you apply for a final order depends on when the court issued the application for ending your civil partnership. If the court issued your application before 6 April 2022 Fill in the application for a conditional order to be made final . Return the form to the court. This will usually be the same court that dealt with your conditional order. If the court issued your application on or after 6 April 2022 If you applied to end your civil partnership online, you’ll be told how to apply for the final order online. To apply by post, fill in the application for a final order form . You can apply for a final order as a sole applicant, even if you started the process to end your civil partnership jointly with your civil partner. Getting the final order The court will check that there are no reasons why the civil partnership cannot be ended. You must provide all details the court asks for within the time limits. If the court is happy with all the information, it will send you and your civil partner a final order. Once you get your final order, your civil partnership has ended and you can marry or enter into another civil partnership. You must keep your final order safe - you will need to show it if you enter into another civil partnership or to prove your status.

If your partner lacks mental capacity

You can apply to end your civil partnership if your partner ‘lacks mental capacity’ and cannot agree to end the civil partnership or take part in the process. Your partner will need someone to make decisions for them during the process. The person who acts on their behalf is called a ‘litigation friend’ . It can be a family member, close friend or someone else who can represent them. Your partner does not have a litigation friend If there’s no one suitable and willing to be their litigation friend, you can apply to the court to appoint a litigation friend. The Official Solicitor may agree to act as your partner’s litigation friend when there’s no one else to do this (‘litigation friend of last resort’). How to apply Check there’s nobody else suitable or willing to act as your civil partner’s litigation friend. Check that there’s money available for any costs the Official Solicitor has to pay. Your civil partner may be able to get legal aid . Give the details of your civil partner’s doctor or other medical professional to the court so it can ask for a certificate of capacity. After you apply If the Official Solicitor agrees to act as litigation friend for your civil partner, you’ll be able to end your civil partnership . Contact the Official Solicitor’s staff Email or call the private family law team if you have an enquiry. Official Solicitor - private family law team ospt.dsm@offsol.gsi.gov.uk Telephone: 020 3681 2754 Find out about call charges

End a civil partnership

Check you can end your civil partnership

You can apply to end (‘dissolve’) your civil partnership if you’ve been in the partnership for over a year. You must apply to a court to do this.

If you do not want to end the civil partnership, you can get a legal separation. You can apply for separation during the first year of your civil partnership.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

There’s a different process to end a civil partnership in Scotland or end a civil partnership in Northern Ireland.

Arrangements for children, money and property

You and your partner may need to work out:

arrangements for looking after any children
child maintenance payments for any children

You also need to divide your money and property.

You can usually avoid going to court hearings if you agree about children, money and property and the reasons for ending your civil partnership.

Get help or advice

You can get advice about legal paperwork and making arrangements from:

Find a legal adviser if you need legal advice.

View a printable version of the whole guide

End a civil partnership

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