Can I use the simplified/do it yourself procedure?

The simplified/do it yourself procedure can only be used in certain cases. It can only be used where:

• You are applying for divorce/dissolution because of the irretrievable breakdown of your marriage/partnership based on one year separation with consent or two years separation without consent, or because of the issue of an interim gender recognition certificate;
• There are no children of the marriage/partnership under the age of 16;
• There are no financial matters to sort out;
• There are no other court proceedings under way which might result in the end of your marriage / civil partnership.

Please note a judge or sheriff may only allow your application to proceed where neither you or your spouse/civil partner, suffer from mental illness, personality disorder or learning disabilities.

Residence

There are also additional requirements relating to residence which you will need to meet to use this procedure and these are different depending on whether you are raising the application in the sheriff court or Court of Session. In both cases, you need to be able to say that:

• You or your spouse/civil partner are domiciled in Scotland when the application is made; and/or
• You or your spouse/civil partner are habitually resident in Scotland having resided there for at least one year immediately before the application is made.

If you are applying for simplified divorce/dissolution in the sheriff court, one of the following must also apply to you:

• You or your spouse/civil partner have lived at your current address for at least 40 days before the date the application is made; and/or
• You or your spouse / civil partner have no known residence in Scotland, but did live at the address shown for at least 40 days, ending not more than 40 days before the date the application is made

Which forms do I need to use?

If you are applying for simplified divorce or dissolution of civil partnership in the sheriff court, you can access the forms and guidance notes on the website.

If you are applying for simplified divorce or dissolution of civil partnership in the Court of Session, you can access the forms (see forms 49.73-A to 49.73-C and forms 49.80-A to 49.80-C) and guidance notes on the website.

How much does it cost to lodge the application in court?

The fees to lodge an application for simplified divorce or dissolution of civil partnership depend on whether the application is lodged in the sheriff court or Court of Session. Further information can be found in the Court Fees section.

You may be entitled to fee exemption, for example if you are entitled to certain state benefits. For more information on fee exemption see the Court Fees section and the fee exemption application form.

You should note that there may be other fees chargeable as the case proceeds and these fees do not include any fees you may need to pay if you have instructed a solicitor to help you. The solicitor can give you information on these costs.

Affidavit

There is an affidavit on the application form which needs to be sworn before a Justice of the Peace, Notary Public, or Commissioner for Oaths. This service is free if you go to a justice of the peace. If you would like to do this before a Justice of the Peace then you can contact your local court to arrange an appointment.

Where can I get further information?

If you have any further questions about the ordinary divorce or dissolution of civil partnership procedure, please contact your local sheriff court, or the Court of Session if you plan to send your application there. Staff will not however be able to provide you with legal advice.

Citizens Advice Scotland can also assist you, you can find contact details for your local office on the Citizens Advice Scotland website.

Where can I get legal advice?

Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service staff are not legally qualified and therefore cannot provide you with any legal advice. However, the simplified divorce/dissolution procedure is designed so that you can 'do it yourself' and not need to get legal advice. If you do decide that you would rather get legal advice, the Law Society of Scotland can provide contact details for solicitors in your area.

Frequently asked questions

Frequently accessed questions related to simplified divorce/dissolution of civil partnership can be accessed in the frequently asked questions section.

Please Note: This information cannot cover every situation which might arise in the course of an action. You should also note that the information is not the authority upon which the procedure is based. The formal authority is contained in the rules.