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Beginner November 2016

Worrying about divorce - odd title for wedding planning!

Annaangel, 9 March, 2016 at 14:48 Posted on Planning 0 25

Hi,

My partner proposed last November and we have planned our wedding for this November. The issue is that he is still married, I know that sounds terrible but they have been legally separated for almost 20 years and its all very amicable. We have been together for almost three years. Neither of them ever thought they would remarry so never bothered getting divorced. When he proposed he had planned on starting divorce proceedings immediately. Due to some personal issues (unrelated to wedding/divorce etc) we have been unable to get the ball rolling.

I am now starting to panic that we are not going to have enough time now to do it. We're due to get married on 12th November so will need to give notice but can't do that until he receives his decree absolute.

I can't even think about planning a wedding or paying out for things in case it can't go ahead. It's making me really stressed but he seems to think everything is fine and that we still have plenty of time.

Does anyone have any experience of this? We're normally rock solid and never row but this is starting to become a major problem. I can't even bear to think of the humiliation if I have to let all my friends and family know that the wedding isn't going ahead because he is still married ☹️

Thanks xxx

25 replies

Latest activity by Mohsin, 2 April, 2026 at 08:14
  • S
    Beginner August 2018
    SoontobeMrsS ·
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    Have you already sent out invitations? Had the ball started rolling now? Are you going through lawyers?

    No experience myself I'm afraid, but I can understand why you're stressing out! There is still plenty of time if it's all been started already.

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  • A
    Beginner November 2016
    Annaangel ·
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    Thanks for your reply. Not sent invites yet but we have sent save the dates. As our families are both having to travel we wanted people to have plenty of notice and some have started booking hotels.

    They are not using lawyers as it's very straightforward. They had no children together and all the financial stuff was sorted 20 years ago! Even though the divorce is so straightforward it depends on the length of time the court take to process it!

    xx

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  • S
    Beginner August 2018
    SoontobeMrsS ·
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    So have they already paid the court fees and sent the forms off? If so I'd be highly surprised if it doesn't come in before Nov. Worst comes to absolute worst could you have a blessing on the day with a friend officiating and then do the deed when you can in the registry office? x

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  • A
    Beginner November 2016
    Annaangel ·
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    They've not sent the forms off yet. He's planning to do that in the next couple of weeks. He doesn't seem to see there's any urgency and thinks that I'm stressing unnecessarily but I work in a different area of the law courts (nothing to do with divorces!) and I know what a mess all departments are in!

    It has to all be completed before the middle of October in order to give notice.

    I'd hate for everyone to travel if they didn't actually get to see us marry. Otherwise I would feel like we were just having a party.

    xx

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  • S
    Beginner August 2018
    SoontobeMrsS ·
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    Surely the real bit is the vows and the promises though, not the bit where you sign to make sure you're not up sh*t creek if one of you dies? I'd seriously consider a non-legal ceremony on the day if for any reason it doesn't go through, especially seeing as your family have already made arrangements. Obviously it's up to you though. I'm sure it'll be ok but I'd be urging him to do it now, rather than 'in the next two weeks'.

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  • A
    Beginner November 2016
    Annaangel ·
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    "Surely the real bit is the vows and the promises though, not the bit where you sign to make sure you're not up sh*t creek if one of you dies?"

    That's actually really made laugh!! Thank you ?

    It is something to think about. A friend of ours is actually a professional Elvis impersonator so it could turn out quite well!!

    xx

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  • Jayne E
    VIP
    Jayne E ·
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    I was in the same posion ie never bothered with a divorce. Then a few years ago my ex decided he wanted to remarry. Assuming his ex has no problem and everything is signed stating neither has any financial claim on the other I think mine went through fairly quickly. However I agree it is time important and "in a couple of weeks" should be asap really.

    You could of course push the wedding back "due to unforseen circumstances" it all goes boobies up but that can get expensive. I'm not even sure wedding insurance would cover you for it.

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  • S
    Beginner August 2018
    SoontobeMrsS ·
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    Just had a little stalk of your past posts and our weddings sound quite similar! We are doing registry office and then a pub. We both drink 'real ale' and are going around a few pubs this weekend to chat about options, a couple of which are on the Thames Smiley smile I'm really looking forward to a laid back day!

    We're even thinking of asking our local (tiny) CAMRA pub to open before the ceremony so we can all have a pre-wedding drink.

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  • MadamRed
    Beginner April 2017
    MadamRed ·
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    My ex and I divorced amicably a couple of years ago. Like your partner, we had agreed the split of assets etc in advance (in our case, we had a separation agreement drawn up by a solicitor). However, it still took several months. There is a minimum length of time you have to wait between getting the decree nisi and applying for the decree absolute. I think from filing the first petition to getting the decree absolute took about 6 months for us. The basic steps are:

    *File a divorce petition

    *Other party responds to the petition within 8-21days of the date that they get the petition from the Court

    *Apply for a decree nisi

    *Receive decree nisi

    *Apply for decree absolute (minimum of 6 weeks after receiving the decree nisi)

    *Receive decree absolute

    Formal separation of assets is a separate process, known as a Consent Order. Your partner may not have to go through this as so much time has passed since he separated from his ex.

    You may find these links helpful:

    https://www.gov.uk/divorce/overview

    https://www.gov.uk/money-property-when-relationship-ends/apply-for-consent-order

    I would advise that you don't set a date until your partner's divorce comes through - that way, you avoid any potential embarrassment.

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  • Daisy Bell
    Beginner August 2015
    Daisy Bell ·
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    My MIL just got divorced in Scotland. From date of separation to final divorce it took 1 1/2 years but the reason for that was the financial side of things. The actual divorce took about 6 weeks from being filed to being final I think. Hopefully you'll be able to get it sorted soon so you don't have to worry about it anymore.

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  • B
    Beginner July 2016
    bananacatdance ·
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    Hi, through something I had to deal with recently for a family member we were advised by a solicitor that the whole process would take at least 3 months and that was if everything was sent back instantly by all parties/courts. The thing we were told is that courts don't look at divorce papers every day, they do it once every two weeks so it could take up to 4 weeks depending on when papers are sent or received just for 2 pieces of correspondence to go through. I would do as the other girls have suggested and start asap x x

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  • L
    Beginner March 2016
    LuxuriousGoldDiamonds273 ·
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    Hi it took my OH 6 months so definitely get him to send the papers in now. If he does I'm sure it'll be fine but he should be understanding that this will put stress on you until it's done

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  • A
    Beginner November 2016
    Annaangel ·
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    Thank you for everyone's replies!! I appreciate people taking the time to respond!

    So, we had a long discussion about it last night, made more difficult for the fact he's away at the moment as he's packing up his house to sell about 200 miles away from me! He's been really apologetic about making me stressed and just didn't realise how long it can take. I've stopped googling it as all I seem to be getting is horror stories and rung the divorce centre and they've told me it should be completed within 3 to 4 months. This still keeps us on track and gives us a bit of breathing room should there be any unforeseen delays! He's now completed all the paperwork and it's going to be sent first thing on Monday morning! (Unfortunately his marriage certificate is at my house but I'm making a special trip to his over the weekend to take it to him!)

    We had talked about cancelling the date and that nearly broke my heart but we're going to stick with it and just keep everything crossed!!

    xxx

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  • L
    Beginner March 2016
    LuxuriousGoldDiamonds273 ·
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    That's brilliant, well done for having a good discussion about it. I'm sure the timing will be absolutely fine now he's getting the paperwork done xx

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  • S
    Beginner August 2018
    SoontobeMrsS ·
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    So good to hear. Now just enjoy planning! x

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  • Andero
    Savvy November 2025 East Riding of Yorkshire
    Andero ·
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    If you are worrying about divorce, it’s important to know that divorce matters are generally handled by family law attorneys, not consumer protection lawyers. A consumer protection attorney in Indiana, such as the team at Justice consumer protection attorney indiana , specializes in issues like unfair debt collection, credit report errors, and other consumer rights cases. Unless your divorce involves consumer-related problems like debt or fraud, a consumer protection attorney may not be the right choice. For divorce matters, it’s best to consult a family law attorney, while a consumer protection lawyer can assist if there are related financial or consumer issues.

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    Monmouthshire
    Mohsin ·
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  • N
    Beginner January 2000 Kansas
    Natalie_King12 ·
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    It’s actually more common than people admit to think about the “what ifs” while planning something so big. Wedding planning can bring up real life concerns, not just romance, and that doesn’t mean the relationship is doomed. Having access to clear information like what you’d find through Arapahoe Family Court resources can sometimes ease anxiety rather than fuel it. Open conversations and being informed often help couples feel more secure as they move forward together.

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  • D
    Beginner December 1999 North Carolina
    Daniel_Carter12 ·
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    It’s actually pretty honest to acknowledge worries like that while planning something so big.
    Talking through tough possibilities early can strengthen communication and expectations.
    Having reliable info handy, like what you’d find through Brevard Court Records can also make serious conversations feel less overwhelming. At the end of the day, balancing realism with optimism is part of building a strong foundation together.

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  • M
    Beginner December 1999 North Carolina
    Michael_Turner12 ·
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    Interesting take wedding planning can naturally bring up deeper, sometimes uncomfortable topics. Talking about possibilities doesn’t mean expecting the worst; it often reflects thoughtful, realistic planning. Access to clear legal guidance, like resources explained through Westchester Court Process can actually ease concerns rather than create them. Open conversations early on can help couples feel more secure and aligned as they move forward together.

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  • B
    Beginner December 1999 Iowa
    Brian_Foster12 ·
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    It’s an honest take planning a wedding can stir up big questions, even uncomfortable ones.
    Thinking about the future doesn’t mean doubt; it can mean maturity and realism.
    Resources like Fort Bend Family can help people understand legal realities while still focusing on commitment. Open conversations like this can actually strengthen a relationship rather than weaken it.

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