Divorce applications increase in the first week of the new law

There were three thousand divorce applications in the first week after the introduction of the new Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act, which is a 50% increase on the weekly average.

If couples cannot progress with a joint application and then have to submit a sole application, they do not have to pay the £593 fee twice.

However, the system can only currently accept one full payment, so joint applicants cannot yet pay half each.