Northern Ireland

Below is a brief overview of what you will find in this discussion of divorce and dissolution. This information applies only to Northern Ireland.

Background information

See Background information to learn about:

• When you can get a divorce or dissolution of a civil partnership
• Mediation
• Which courts you can go to
• Judicial separation & separation of a civil partnership
• Nullity

Grounds and the facts to prove them

See Grounds and the facts to prove them for information on the grounds you can use in Northern Ireland for proving that a relationship has broken down irretrievably.

Jurisdiction

See Jurisdiction for information on:

• The criteria to have your divorce or dissolution heard in a court in Northern Ireland
• Domicile & habitual residence

Divorce or dissolution process

See Divorce or dissolution process for information on:

• The forms needed during the process
• What happens after service upon the respondent
• Undefended petitions
• Defended petitions
• Costs

Financial Separation - Ancillary Relief & Matrimonial Agreements

See Ancillary relief & matrimonial agreements for information on ancillary relief and matrimonial agreements, including:

• The court process
• Factors the court considers
• The types of orders the court can make
• How pensions are dealt with

Children

See Children for information on:

• Court proceedings regarding your children
• Court considerations

Parental responsibility

See Parental responsibilities for information on:

• What parental responsibility means
• Who has parental responsibility
• What happens when parents can't agree

Changing names

See Changing your name for information on:

• Changing name by statutory declaration or deed poll
• Changing a name on a birth certificate
• Changing the name of a child