Family law in the UK - divorce, children and finances, in Polish

Since April 2022 divorce is "no-fault": you state that the marriage has broken down irretrievably, and the court does not investigate blame. You can apply jointly or alone after at least a year of marriage.

1. Application - usually online, with your marriage certificate (a Polish certificate needs a certified English translation).
2. 20-week reflection period before the conditional order.
3. Conditional order, then at least six weeks and a day.
4. Final order - the divorce is complete.

Money and children are dealt with separately; a divorce order does not divide property.

Where spouses have lived in the UK for some time, the English courts usually have jurisdiction. If one spouse has returned to Poland, assets are in both countries or the children live in different places, it matters where the case starts first. An English court looks at assets worldwide, including property in Poland. A divorce granted in England does not always appear automatically in Polish registers - further formalities are usually needed, for example before remarrying in Poland.

England and Wales has no automatic community of property. The court has wide discretion and considers children's needs first, then income and needs, the length of the marriage, age and contributions to the family. A private agreement only becomes binding when approved by the court as a consent order; a clean break order ends future financial claims. Most applications require a mediation information meeting (MIAM) first, with exceptions such as domestic abuse.

The child's welfare comes first. If parents cannot agree, a child arrangements order sets where the child lives and how contact works. Mothers have parental responsibility automatically; fathers if married to the mother or named on the birth certificate, otherwise by agreement or court order. Moving a child abroad - including to Poland - normally needs the consent of everyone with parental responsibility or the court's permission. Removing a child without it can lead to a Hague Convention return application. Child maintenance is usually arranged between parents or through the Child Maintenance Service; where parents live in different countries the route depends on international arrangements.

If you are in danger, call 999. Courts can grant urgent protection such as a non-molestation order, and legal aid may be available in domestic abuse cases. There is no "common-law marriage" in England and Wales: unmarried partners have no automatic claim on each other's property, so ownership documents matter.