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If you’re considering a divorce, you’ve probably done some research and, if you have, you’ve probably come across the term DIY divorce. The abbreviation is largely self-explanatory, of course, but, if you’re genuinely considering doing your own divorce, we think it’s important that you fully understand the advantages and drawbacks of a DIY divorce.

As a result, we’re going to prepare two separate articles, the first of which will discuss the advantages of doing your own divorce:

1. The Cost

It’ll probably come as no surprise but most people that choose to do their own divorces cite savings as their main motivation for doing so. Solicitors charge several hundred pounds per hour, after all, so it’s not hard to see why.

It’s worth noting that you’ll still be required to pay a fee to the court unless you’re exempt, however.

2. Speed

You’d think that a divorce that is administered and handled by a solicitor with both training and experience in family law would certainly be processed quicker than one you do yourself, but you’d be wrong.

Remember that solicitors deal with multiple cases at any given time, whilst you can give your application your full attention. This means that – day-to-day responsibilities aside – you’ll be able to complete and return correspondence, contact the court and do everything needed to expedite the end of your marriage as quickly as possibly far more swiftly that a solicitor.

3. Convenience

Not only do solicitors have to juggle several clients at once, they also rigidly adhere to standard office hours – something which isn’t suited to the modern world.

Do your own divorce, and office hours aren’t going to inhibit its progress. You can deal with things in your own time and as quickly or as slowly as you like.

4. Harmony

Sadly, with most solicitors charging an hourly rate, it’s in their interests to prolong matters and generate larger bills. Did you know, for example, that solicitors are more commonly referred to as ‘fee-earners’ within their firms?

As far as divorces are concerned, the most obvious way to prolong proceedings is to ‘poke holes’ in agreements that spouses have reached between them such as, say, who keeps the family home, how pensions are to be divided etc. This leads to negotiations which take time and, of course, inflate your bill.

If you’re doing your own divorce, an agreement that suits the needs of both parties can be made binding with relative ease.

5. Control

Put simply, you’re the one in control. You’ll know exactly what’s been written in your various documents, what the courts are being told, when everything’s been filed and so on. In my experience, this makes the divorce process less anxiety-inducing.