In England, the legal steps of a divorce take at least around six months, and agreeing how to divide money and property can take longer. Because nobody can be sure of the end date, it helps to choose storage that doesn’t need one: with us, your storage simply carries on until you give notice.
The minimum timeline
GOV.UK sets out two waiting periods that apply to every divorce:
- “You must wait 20 weeks after your divorce application has been issued by the court before you can apply for a conditional order.”
- After that, “You need to wait at least 43 days (6 weeks and 1 day) after the date of the conditional order” before you can apply for the final order that ends the marriage.
Together, that’s about 26 weeks, or six months, as a minimum, and in practice a little longer while the court processes each step. Many couples take longer, often because of the money side. GOV.UK says that if you want “a legally binding arrangement for dividing money and property”, you must apply to the court for it before you apply for the final order. A solicitor or mediator can tell you how long your own situation is likely to take.
What storage is often for
A separation tends to move belongings around in stages: one of you moves out, a smaller home can’t take everything, and some pieces are still to be agreed. Storage gives things a safe, neutral place while the rest is worked out.
If belongings are part of what’s being agreed, keep a simple list of what goes into the unit, and take legal advice before selling or giving away anything that’s shared.
Storage that fits an uncertain timeline
- No end date needed. The minimum stay is just two weeks. After that, your storage carries on, paid every four weeks, until you email us your end date, normally with 14 days’ notice.
- Only pay for what you use. Once the unit is empty and we’ve checked it, we refund any days you’ve paid for but won’t use.
- You decide who gets in. The unit is in your name, and only you, and anyone you choose to share access with, can open it.
- Room to change. If you need more or less space as things settle, you can move to a bigger or smaller unit when one is free.
Your things sit in their own alarmed unit, and you can visit from 6am to 10pm, seven days a week.
This is a hard time, and we’re happy to talk it through. Call us on 0800 2545585, or get a price online.
Related questions
- Can I change to a bigger or smaller unit?
- Can anyone else access my unit?
- Should I store furniture, sell it or give it away?
- What should we do with two sets of furniture when moving in together?
This page explains the general divorce timeline in England. It isn’t legal advice.
Further reading
- GOV.UK: Get a divorce