Key Takeaways
- Ending a civil partnership is called dissolution. Since 2022 it works almost exactly like a no-fault divorce, with no blame required.
- You can apply once you have been in the partnership for at least a year, on your own or jointly, online or by post. The court fee is £628.
- It takes a minimum of 26 weeks: a 20-week reflection period, a conditional order, then a wait of six weeks and a day before the final order.
- Dissolution does not sort out your money. You need a separate financial consent order to make any agreement legally binding.
When a civil partnership breaks down, one of the first frustrations is how little seems to be written about it compared with divorce. Everyone knows roughly how divorce works, but ending a civil partnership can feel like a murkier, less familiar process, which is the last thing you need when the relationship itself is already hard enough.
The reassuring news is that it is not murky at all. Ending a civil partnership follows almost exactly the same path as a no-fault divorce. The name is different and the paperwork uses its own terms, but step by step it runs the same way.
This guide walks through how to end a civil partnership in England and Wales, from the first application to the final order, plus the financial side that is easy to overlook. If you would like advice on your own circumstances, Osbourne Pinner offers a free 30-minute consultation with a family law solicitor.
First, the language: dissolution, not divorce
Divorce is the word for ending a marriage. Ending a civil partnership is called dissolution, and it results in a dissolution order rather than a divorce. It is worth knowing that civil partnerships are no longer only for same-sex couples either. Since the end of 2019, opposite-sex couples can enter them too, so dissolution applies to all civil partners. Aside from the terminology, the process mirrors divorce closely, right down to the two-stage conditional and final order.
Can you end your civil partnership yet?
There are a couple of conditions. You must have been in the civil partnership for at least a year before you can apply to dissolve it. You also need the right connection to England and Wales, usually because one or both of you live here, so the courts here can deal with it. Beyond that, the only ground is that the relationship has broken down irretrievably. Since April 2022 you do not have to give any reason or blame your partner. You simply confirm the relationship is over.
Applying on your own or together
You can apply as a sole applicant, or the two of you can apply jointly. A joint application tends to suit couples who are parting on reasonable terms and want to go through it together. A sole application makes sense if you would rather take the lead, or your partner is not engaging. The court fee and the timetable are the same either way, so pick whichever feels less stressful.
The steps to dissolution
Once you are ready, the process runs through these stages:
- Apply to the court, online or by post, confirming the relationship has broken down irretrievably. You will need your civil partnership certificate and the £628 court fee. Help with fees is available if you are on a low income or receive certain benefits.
- If you applied on your own, your partner is sent the application and has 14 days to return an acknowledgement confirming they have received it.
- A 20-week reflection period then begins. This is fixed and cannot be skipped, but it is the ideal time to sort out your finances.
- After the 20 weeks, you apply for the conditional order, where a judge confirms there is no reason the partnership cannot be dissolved.
- You then wait a further six weeks and a day.
- Finally, you apply for the final order, which legally ends the civil partnership.
How long it all takes
Because of the two fixed waiting periods, the fastest a dissolution can go is around 26 weeks, or roughly six months. In reality many take longer, usually because of delays in paperwork or because the finances are still being sorted out. The waiting periods themselves cannot be rushed, so the best way to keep things moving is to get every form right and use the reflection period productively rather than letting it drift.
Do not forget the finances
This is the part that catches people out. Ending the civil partnership does not deal with your money. Your home, savings, pensions and any maintenance are separate, and the dissolution order alone does not settle them. To make an agreement binding and stop your ex making a claim against you later, you need a financial consent order approved by the court. It is usually best to have this ready during the 20-week wait so it does not hold up your final order. The court has the same power to sort finances on dissolution as it does on divorce.
What about children?
If you have children together, arrangements for them are handled separately from the dissolution itself. Many parents agree these between themselves without going anywhere near a court. Where you cannot agree, you can ask the court to decide through a child arrangements order, but the dissolution does not deal with the children automatically.
Are there alternatives to dissolution?
Ending it outright is not the only option. If you have been in the partnership for less than a year, or you are not ready to end it completely, you can apply for a legal separation order instead, which lets you live apart and sort out finances without formally dissolving the partnership. Separately, if the partnership was never valid or was flawed from the outset, a nullity order may be possible. For most people, though, dissolution is the route. You can read our fuller guide to civil partnership dissolution for more detail.
Do you need a solicitor?
You are not required to use one, and a straightforward, agreed dissolution can be done through the online portal. That said, the finances are where the real value lies, and getting a consent order drafted properly is worth doing well. If your situation involves property, pensions or any disagreement, it is sensible to take advice early. You can find out how we help on our civil partnership page.
Speak to a Family Law Solicitor About Ending a Civil Partnership
Ending a civil partnership follows the same path as a no-fault divorce, but the finances still need sorting properly, and that is where things most often go wrong. Getting clear advice early keeps the process smooth and protects you for the future.
At Osbourne Pinner, our family law solicitors can handle your dissolution from application to final order, draft your financial consent order, and make sure nothing is left unresolved.
Please note that this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. We always recommend speaking to a qualified solicitor for advice tailored to your specific circumstances.
We offer a free 30-minute consultation to discuss your situation. You can speak with us via video call or visit our offices in Harrow, Canary Wharf, Piccadilly Circus or Manchester. To arrange your consultation, call 0203 983 5080, email [email protected] or complete the form below.
