The divorce process in 2024, what the latest court data actually shows

There were 108,657 divorce applications filed in England and Wales in 2024, roughly 281 divorces completed every working day. 96% of applications were made digitally. The average time from application to Final Order was approximately 70 weeks (about 16 months).

The divorce process itself has been democratised. The financial side has not. 74% of financial remedy applications in Q4 2024 were uncontested, meaning couples had already reached agreement and were asking the court to approve a consent order. The consent order process (paper-based, no hearing in most cases) typically takes 4–6 weeks once submitted.

Contested financial proceedings, by contrast, took over 12 months on average to reach a final hearing, and cost correspondingly more. The difference between arriving at that point with a clear, mutually agreed financial record versus nothing is substantial.