We are delighted to announce that we are one of just a handful of law firms across the country selected to pilot a new system designed to take some of the stress out of divorce.

The Government backed scheme enables couples to begin filing for divorce using a smart online service instead of having to wade through lengthy paper forms. It offers prompts and guidance to assist people in completing their application, and uses clear, non-technical language.

The whole process can be completed electronically, including payment and uploading supporting evidence.

The Courts Service, which is currently testing the new system for the legal profession, says it has already contributed to a 95% drop in the number of applications being returned because of mistakes.

Hasan Hadi, our managing director, said he thought the online service would benefit clients, so he applied to take part.

Hasan said: “We are excited to be part of this pilot as it will assist us in providing a more streamlined and efficient service which compliments our current electronic working style ad will further allow us to focus on the important legal issues, rather than bureaucracy.

“The online service is very useful for the client as it allows the divorce to be progressed much quicker than the traditional paper method.

“For example, our first petition was submitted on a Friday afternoon, and by Monday afternoon the court had issued the petition and provided us with papers for service. In comparison, the traditional paper application would take anywhere between two to four weeks for the court to process our application.

“The only challenge is having to deal with a new system and testing out the various functionalities. Whilst this may cause initial issues for us, we are proud to be one of the first firms in the country to be assisting in this and it is hoped that our experience and thoughts can be implemented by HM Courts and Tribunal Service to provide our colleagues with an efficient online system.”

These changes are part of £1 billion programme to transform the court system in an effort to make it quicker, more accessible and easier to use for all.

If you would like more information or advice about the issues raised in this article, or any aspect of family law please contact our expert legal team on 0208 004 0065, by email at [email protected] or using the form below.