Cross-border Divorce Navigator
Divorce: United Kingdom → United Kingdom
Case complexity: medium. Both spouses live in United Kingdom.
Where you can divorce
United Kingdom: No-fault divorce since 2022; jurisdiction rests on habitual residence or domicile. London is called the divorce capital: the weaker party recovers more here than almost anywhere.
Which law governs the divorce and the assets
English and US courts apply their own law to the divorce (lex fori) — choosing the forum means choosing the rules.
A long marriage in England pulls the division towards 50/50 — where needs require, pre-marital and personal assets are reached too.
There is no marriage contract — the default regime of each country involved will apply (see the property section).
How property will be divided
United Kingdom: No fixed regime: the court of England & Wales divides «fairly» (s. 25 MCA 1973); for a long marriage the starting point is 50/50, and pre-marital or personal assets can be reached where needs require.
Children and maintenance
Child disputes are heard by the courts of the child’s habitual residence (Brussels II-ter / Hague 1996) — not by the country more convenient for a parent.
United Kingdom: Spousal maintenance can be long-term (up to joint lives) — more generous than most countries; child support follows the CMS formula.
How the divorce is recognised across borders
United Kingdom: English orders are widely recognised; financial orders over foreign assets are enforced where the assets sit — sometimes via separate proceedings.
What to watch out for
England is involved: the court divides “fairly” rather than by formula — pre-marital and personal assets are within reach.
Without a marriage contract, everything acquired during the marriage is divided under the default regime — as a rule, equally.
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This is a first-pass orientation, not legal advice. The rules are simplified; verify the current details with a lawyer.
Contact information
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