https://insidehmcts.blog.gov.uk/divorce-step-by-step-your-essential-guide-podcast-transcript/
Divorce Step by Step: Your Essential Guide - podcast transcript
[English] - [Cymraeg]
Sian: Hello and welcome to Inside HMCTS, the podcast that takes you behind the scenes of the courts and tribunal service in England and Wales. In this episode, we're focussing on one of our most widely used services, divorce. What the service is, how it works and how HMCTS supports people through what can be a really challenging time. We'll be sharing practical hints and tips to help you through the process.
I'm Sian and I'm part of the HMCTS Communications team. Joining me are Kimberley, a Deputy Service Manager for the divorce service team, and Sarah, a CTSC Team Leader for divorce. They'll guide us through the process, common mistakes to avoid and what support is available if you need help. So, if you or someone you know is considering divorce, this episode is packed with useful advice to make the journey a little smoother. Kimberley, let's start with you. For anyone whose not familiar with HMCTS, can you tell us a bit about your role and what you do.
Kimberly: I'm Kim, I am the Deputy Service Manager for divorce and financial remedy. We're responsible for the enhancements and making the system better and easier for both citizens, solicitors and caseworkers at the court.
Sarah: I'm Sarah. I'm currently a Team Leader and I've been a Team Leader for 12 months.
Sian: So, let's start with the basics. If someone's thinking about applying for divorce, where should they start? What are the essentials they need to start that process?
Kimberly: So, they need to have been married for one year and one day, you need your marriage certificate. It needs to be a colour copy of your marriage certificate, if it's in colour. We need to see all four corners of the marriage certificate when you're uploading it or taking a photo of it for the upload. If it's a foreign marriage certificate, we need the translation of that marriage certificate as well as the original marriage certificate. The translation must have been signed and dated, by the actual translator themselves, and not the company that they work for. You must know your partner's name in full, including middle names, no shortening versions of any names. We need the full legal name of both the applicant, respondent and applicant too and the address of both parties on the divorce and e-mail address if you've got it, because that will speed up the process because they'll be served via e-mail rather than via post, post takes longer, but you'll get e-mail and post if you pop your e-mail address in there. And if you've done any deed poll changes to your name, you need your deed poll. If there's any marriage certificate discrepancies, so discrepancy between the spelling of what your actual name is and what's on your marriage certificate, you'll need your passport or drivers licence.
Sian: And what's the very first step in the process? Can people literally Google I want a divorce. Where's that going to take them?
Kimberly: So they can Google to get a divorce but then you will see the GOV.UK login screen where you can get to our landing page on GOV.UK and obviously then that's free to use for yourself to go through. When you're on GOV.UK it lays out the entire process of a divorce. So from the start to the end. Applications are saved for six months so they can come and go, or if it is that they haven't got the answer to the question that they're asked or they're not quite sure they can come away and leave that. We also have the functionality to if they can't upload something at that point, they can indicate that they can't do that, and then we give them instruction on how they can actually provide that at another time by post or e-mail. So, it is really straightforward. It's very minimal information that we require now under the new divorce law.
Sian: Yeah. So when people are going through this process, what are they referring to themselves as? What are the names of the parties when they're going through the process?
Kimberley: So with the new law divorce, you can do a sole application or a joint application. For a sole application, you have an applicant who is the person that actually makes the application for the divorce, makes the payment for the divorce and is the one that puts the respondent's information down so as the court can contact them for a response to the divorce. The respondent is the applicant's partner, husband, civil partner, and they are the responsible for doing an acknowledgement of service, which is where they will agree or dispute the divorce application. In a joint application, both parties have to do the application together and it will be applicant one who is the lead applicant. So they are the one that will start the application off and they will be the one responsible for the payment of the application. They will indicate who applicant two is so they can then be contacted for applicant two to complete their part of the application. And they will be known as applicant two or the second applicant on the joint application. They will then fill in their bit and send that back to applicant one for them to complete the submission of the application. The application will then be reviewed by the court and then issued and you will receive a notice of proceedings, which is to confirm that the application has been issued and a copy of your divorce application, which is known as a D8 application. It then goes into a 20 week holding period if it is a joint application. If it is a sole application, it goes to awaiting the acknowledgement of service, which they have 14 days to respond. We then have the conditional order in the application, which is the middle part of the application. The conditional order was used to be known as the Decree-Nisi and old law has been changed to the conditional order. And the conditional order is the agreement that the court agrees that you are eligible to receive a divorce or a separation order if it's judicial separation or if it's a civil partnership agreement. Then you will have a six week and one day wait and then you can apply for the final order which used to be known as the decree absolute and this is what will end your divorce and mean that you are finalised and officially divorced.
Sian: And do people need to have anything agreed with their ex-partner first? I know we spoke about being able to do it singly or jointly.
Kimberley: Only if it's joint it's advisable that they're both aware that it's happening and at the same time and ideally be in contact with one another. So, as you can say, filled out my bit and sent it to you because that saves the hold up. They've only got 14 days between time frames. Before we'll be sending something up to say what you need to. Are you carrying on as a joint? Do you want to go sole etc, rather than leaving things open for a very long period of time. So, with that, it's best that they are in contact. They've both agreed they both know it's happening. But other than that, there doesn't need to be any pre-agreement between them because for a sole application quite often the respondent won't know it's happening until they're actually saved the paperwork. The only other thing I would say is it’s good to actually research before you do your divorce application is to have a look into financial remedy.
Sian: Can you tell me what financial remedy is?
Kimberley: Yes. So financial remedy is where you will apply to the court to help you to deal with your finances at the end of your divorce. So, what we call as a consent used to be a clean break order so, what your finances will be, what your pension will be, potential housing, etc and you basically want the court to sign and seal that order. So as say for instance, if you've got divorced and one party won the lottery, you've got that consent order that says, right? We're split. This is our agreement. You can't come after me for any lottery win further down the line. A contested financial application is where both parties can't come to any agreement. Whether they've tried mediation, they just can't get there and they need a judge to actually assist them in getting that fairly shared out.
Sian: So, we've talked about the online process, but what about if someone prefers paper, can they still do that? How does how does that process work and where do they get the forms?
Kimberley: All forms are available on GOV.UK they're all available for download. They'll fill out all the paperwork, which the questions and the way it's laid out is exactly the same as the digital, then you'd send it to our PO Box address that we've got this on the form, indicate how you want to pay, which we accept cheque, postal order and over the phone card payments.
Sian: And if someone doesn't have one of the documents they need, for example the marriage certificate, what should they do?
Kimberley: If it's England and Wales, they can get a copy of the marriage certificate from the registrar. There's a fee involved in that it's an overseas divorce you can obviously copy go to your Foreign Office.
Sian: And are there any myths or misconceptions about the divorce process that you'd like to clear up?
Sarah: I think one of the big ones is people saying, oh, I've been separated from five years, 10 years, it's fine. It'll just go through. It's not the case. We had a need. A signature from the other party or what we always say is there's different applications people can make to progress the divorce without having a signature, however, we need to be happy, the judge needs to be happy that you have done everything to make that person aware of the divorce, even if it's still not responding, so it's a longer procedure, but it can happen.
Kimberly: I think another common misconception with the no fault divorce is that they think that we're just putting the 20 weeks on there. Just to add time, and we genuinely aren't. You don't need to tell us why you are getting divorce, it's no fault divorce, but because now the only criteria is that you've got to have been married for one year and one day before you can apply, it's that cooling off period to give people that chance to just reflect, make sure it's what they want and also to give them that time as well to get their finances in order to look at the likelihood of finance, because otherwise they'd be getting their application and then the final order within like a couple of weeks if we didn't have that cooling off period. We want you to have that time and not feel pressured and to doing it, so that's where that 20 weeks has come from and that's why I like your typical divorce will be 37 plus weeks now to get from end to end.
Sarah: I think as well touching on the finances, we do get the misunderstanding that when they tick the financial question on the divorce, that means all the finances in the divorce, that's all going to be all done together. When they get to sort of conditional order, final order, then they're like, well, it's all sorted, but actually, it is a separate application, also ever doing when they take yes on the divorce for financial audit is showing an intention, so they're showing the other part in intention that I intend to apply for financial audit, but it's just need to be aware that it is separate and that's something you need to get in order.
Sian: So, you mentioned some time scales there. How long can people expect for the process to take from start to finish and where does the 20 weeks fit into that?
Kimberly: So, when it first comes in, you've got the issuing of the application. We usually give a month's time scale for the application to be reviewed and issued. Usually, it's done in a lot less time than that. The 20 weeks actually starts at the point of the case being issued. So once the case has actually been issued by the court and you're notice of proceedings comes out and all the documentation comes out to confirm it's been issued the actual 20 weeks starts from that date, once the 20 weeks has gone, provided it's happy days and you're working with the joint application. You know you've got your acknowledgement to service back once the 20 weeks is off. We get to what's known as the conditional order stage. This is where they'll apply for the conditional order to actually begin that divorce process for the legal team to have a look at. So then the legal advisors get involved to look at that application. We usually put 6 to 8 weeks for that, that's for the legal advisors to look at the application and then for us to actually list the hearing, the hearing isn't one that needs to be attended by either party. And if you do want to attend, you do need to let the court know and what happens is they get a list of a lot of people's cases on that one day that they'll lend review and just the sign off to say they're happy to grant this conditional order. Once the conditional orders granted, it's then 6 weeks and 1 day and then they can apply for the final order and that's the end of the divorce process there.
Sian: And the financial order part of this is that within that 37 weeks.
Kimberley: Yes. So they can't make an application for a consented financial remedy until they've got a conditional order, which is why we say that 20 weeks you can be working on that. So as once your conditional orders granted, you can straight away apply them for your consent order. The conditional order is where the court does not see any reason why you cannot divorce or separate or get a dissolution. And that's what we mean by a conditional order. This is the court saying we can't see a reason why you are unable to go ahead with this process and get divorced and the final order is the final decree of the divorce. So the final order is your final decree. It used to be called a decree absolute. It's now called final order and no-fault divorce, and that is just us saying this is your last decree to say that you are your divorce is finalised and you are now actually a divorced member and we also do put on there and I think it's key to me mention this. Please don't lose it. Please keep it safe. It is a legal document. You will need to pay for a copy and you will need to provide that if you're getting married again, they need it as a registrar you may need to provide it if you go to probate, you may need to provide it. If you go into any wills or anything like that to your bank. If you change your name for your deed poll, etc. So, it's really key to keep that document safe.
Sian: If someone needs help with their application, what should they do?
Kimberley: So we have a digital support team that can assist you with filling in your application digitally. They can assist you with what the question might mean what you need to do, how you go about uploading? I know that is one of the common things people struggle with is, how do I actually upload something? How do I get it from my phone to an uploaded document? I'm not sure how to do it. How do I take a photo and then upload it? How does it save? Where does it save? So that's what they're there for and they can be available over the phone, they can also be made available to you face to face if you book an appointment, and they can just help you through that process. It's also helpful for people that may need to potentially have an interpreter presence with you. You might want to have like a three-way conversation with an interpreter and these members of staff.
Sarah: But our service team here are really, really good, we've got massive amount of experience. I know we're not legally trained. However, between all the agents and the team leaders and all the service staff, we have a lot of knowledge so we can help, but we can only just say we can never tell you exactly what to do. But we can tell you everything regarding the processes, and I think reading the guidance at the beginning as well, there's a lot of information on there that tells about the process, timelines, things like that. So yeah, and check things as you go on.
Sian: So once someone's applied, what happens next? Can people check how their application is progressing once they've submitted it?
Kimberley: Yes, so through every stage of the divorce, we will let them know via notification. If they've replied by a paper, they'll get that via a letter. If they've applied digitally, they'll get an e-mail that will indicate we've got something for you to look at or it's time that you can apply for XY and Z and they can then log in and review that. The hub page has a handy tick bar at the top that shows you which part of the application you're actually up to. All contact numbers are all on there as well. The web chat, everything e-mail, web form, it's all there on that hub page, so the contact information is there.
Sian: Have you come across any unusual situations in your work, like people changing their mind, for example?
Sarah: All the time. Some of them it can. I think sometimes it can be over the weekend, they've had enough. They've applied and Monday morning they ring panicky. No, we didn't meet. Do eat. I was just having an argument, but yeah we do have a lot.
Sian: How much does it cost to get a divorce?
Sarah: £612 is the full cost, people can apply for help with fees if they're on low income or benefits.
Sian: Great. So finally looking to the future, what is next for the divorce service in 2026, what changes a plan to make things easier for the public?
Kimberley: There's a lot upcoming for 2026 that'll just make life easier is from a digital perspective for the digital users, and then we'll then start to work on what can we do for the paper users to make it easy for them as well.
Sian: That's all for this episode of Inside HMCTS. A big thank you to Kimberley and Sarah for sharing their expertise and insights. If you'd like more information or want to start your application, visit GOV.UK and search for divorce. You'll also find details of our digital support service if you need extra help. Don't forget to check out our previous episodes and please share this podcast with anyone who might find it useful. Thanks for listening. See you soon on the next episode of Inside HMCTS.
[English] - [Cymraeg]
Y Broses Ysgaru Cam wrth Gam: Eich Canllaw Hanfodol
Siân: Helo a chroeso i bodlediad Inside HMCTS - y podlediad sy’n mynd â chi y tu ôl i lenni’r gwasanaeth llysoedd a thribiwnlysoedd yng Nghymru a Lloegr. Yn y bennod hon, rydym yn canolbwyntio ar un o’n gwasanaethau a ddefnyddir mwyaf, y gwasanaeth ysgariadau. Beth yw’r gwasanaeth, sut mae’n gweithio a sut mae GLlTEF yn cefnogi pobl trwy gyfnod a all fod yn heriol iawn. Byddwn yn rhannu cyngor ac awgrymiadau ymarferol gyda chi drwy gydol y broses. Siân ydw i, ac rwy’n aelod o Dîm Cyfathrebiadau GLlTEF. Yn ymuno gyda fi mae Kimberley, Dirprwy Reolwr Gwasanaeth o dîm y gwasanaeth ysgariadau, a Sarah, Arweinydd Tîm CTSC yr adran ysgariadau. Byddant yn ein tywys trwy’r broses, y camgymeriadau cyffredin i’w hosgoi, a pha gymorth sydd ar gael os oes arnoch angen help. Felly, os ydych chi neu rywun rydych yn ei nabod yn ystyried cael ysgariad, mae’r bennod hon yn llawn cyngor defnyddiol i wneud y siwrne ychydig yn fwy esmwyth. Kimberley, gadewch i ni ddechrau gyda chi. Felly, i unrhyw un sydd ddim yn gyfarwydd â GLlTEF, allwch chi ddweud ychydig am eich rôl a’r hyn rydych yn ei wneud?
Kimberley: Kim dw i. Fi yw’r Dirprwy Reolwr Gwasanaeth dros ysgariadau a rhwymedïau ariannol. Rydym yn gyfrifol am y gwelliannau i’r system a gwneud y system yn well ac yn haws i ddinasyddion, cyfreithwyr a gweithwyr achos yn y llys.
Sarah: Sarah dw i. Dw i’n Arweinydd Tîm ar hyn o bryd, ac wedi bod yn y rôl am 12 mis.
Siân: Felly, beth am i ni ddechrau efo’r pethau syml. Os ydy rhywun yn ystyried gwneud cais am ysgariad, lle dylen nhw gychwyn? Beth yw’r pethau hanfodol maen nhw eu hangen i gychwyn y broses?
Kimberley: Felly, maen nhw angen bod wedi priodi am o leiaf blwyddyn ac un diwrnod, a dach chi angen eich tystysgrif priodas. Rhaid iddo fod yn gopi lliw o’ch tystysgrif priodas. Os yw mewn lliw, mae arnom angen gweld pedair cornel y dystysgrif priodas pan fyddwch yn ei huwchlwytho neu’n tynnu llun ohoni i’w huwchlwytho. Os yw’r dystysgrif priodas o dramor, dan ni angen cyfieithiad o’r dystysgrif ynghyd â’r dystysgrif priodas wreiddiol. Rhaid bod y cyfieithiad wedi’i lofnodi a’i ddyddio, gan y cyfieithydd ei hun, ac nid y cwmni mae’n gweithio iddo. Rhaid i chi wybod beth yw enw llawn eich partner, gan gynnwys enwau canol, ac ni ddylid nodi fersiynau byr o unrhyw enwau. Dan ni angen enw cyfreithiol llawn y ceisydd a’r atebydd a chyfeiriad y ddau barti i’r ysgariad hefyd, a chyfeiriad e-bost i’r ddau os oes gennych hwn, oherwydd bydd hyn yn cyflymu’r broses oherwydd bydd y parti arall yn derbyn popeth trwy e-bost yn lle’r post. Mae’r post yn cymryd yn hirach, ond byddwch yn cael popeth drwy’r post ac e-bost os byddwch yn nodi eich cyfeiriad e-bost. Ac os ydych wedi newid eich enw trwy weithred newid enw, bydd arnoch angen eich gweithred newid enw, os oes unrhyw anghysondebau gyda’r dystysgrif priodas. Felly rhywbeth fel anghysondeb o ran eich enw iawn a beth sydd wedi’i nodi ar eich tystysgrif priodas, bydd arnoch angen eich pasbort neu’ch trwydded yrru.
Siân: A beth yw’r cam cyntaf un yn y broses? Ydy rhywun yn gallu defnyddio Google a dweud ‘Dw i isio ysgariad’? Beth fyddai’n digwydd petai nhw’n gwneud hyn?
Kimberley: Maen nhw’n gallu defnyddio Google i chwilio am sut i gael ysgariad - wedyn byddwch yn gweld y sgrin mewngofnodi GOV.UK lle gallwch fynd ar ein tudalen hafan ac mae hwn yn rhad ac am ddim i’w ddefnyddio a gallwch fynd drwy’r broses eich hun. Pan rydych ar GOV.UK mae’n nodi’r holl broses o ysgaru. Felly o’r dechrau i’r diwedd. Mae ceisiadau yn cael eu cadw am 6 mis felly mae modd mynd a dod. Os nad oes gan unigolyn yr ateb i gwestiwn sy’n cael ei ofyn neu os nad ydynt yn siŵr am ateb, gallant fynd i ffwrdd i gael yr ateb. Mae gennym hefyd nodwedd ar gyfer pan dydyn nhw ddim yn gallu uwchlwytho rhywbeth yn y pwynt hwnnw - mae modd iddynt nodi hynny, ac yna rydym yn rhoi cyfarwyddiadau iddynt ar sut gallant ddarparu hwn ar adeg arall un ai trwy’r post neu e-bost. Felly mae’n syml iawn. Dim ond ychydig iawn o wybodaeth dan ni ei hangen bellach o dan y gyfraith newydd ar gyfer ysgariadau.
Siân: Ie. Felly, pan fydd pobl yn mynd trwy’r broses hon, sut maen nhw’n cyfeirio at eu hunain? Beth yw enwau’r partïon pan fyddant yn mynd trwy’r broses?
Kimberley: Y ceisydd yw’r unigolyn sydd wedi cychwyn y cais, felly ceisydd 1, neu os yw’r ceisydd wedi’i nodi fel yr unigolyn sydd yn brif geisydd, sef yr unigolyn wnaeth gychwyn y cais am ysgariad, ac sydd wedi talu am y cais am ysgariad. Wedyn Ceisydd 2 ydy’r ail barti yn y ysgariad, sef yr ail ddefnyddiwr llys sydd wedi gwneud cais gyda Cheisydd 1, a nhw fydd yr ail geisydd. Yr Atebydd yw’r unigolyn sydd angen ymateb i’r cais i gadarnhau p’un a ydynt yn hapus i’r ysgariad fynd yn ei flaen. Mae angen gwirio hefyd bod nhw ddim yn dweud bod nhw heb briodi yn y lle cyntaf. Felly yn y bôn, yr hyn maen nhw’n ddweud gyda’r gydnabyddiaeth cyflwyno yw, maen nhw’n mynd drwy’r broses ac yn rhoi caniatâd i ni, ac mae gennym farnwr hefyd. Yna nhw fydd y farnwriaeth a fydd yn edrych ar eich achos a phennu atebion i gwestiynau, penderfynu p’un a oes modd caniatáu’r ysgariad, ac edrych ar yr holl oblygiadau cyfreithiol a’r geriach sy’n ymwneud â’r ysgariad. Ac yna byddwn yn cyfeirio’r cais i’r llys, y CTSC fydd y ganolfan sydd ymdrin â’r holl geisiadau am ysgariad ac fel arfer rydym yn galw’r staff hynny’n weithwyr achos neu asiantau.
Siân: Ac a oes rhaid i bobl fod wedi cytuno ar rywbeth gyda’i cyn-bartner yn gyntaf? Dan ni wedi sôn am wneud cais yn unigol neu ar y cyd.
Kimberley: Dim os yw’n gais ar y cyd mae’n syniad da i sicrhau bod y ddau yn ymwybodol o’r hyn sy’n digwydd ac ar yr un pryd sicrhau eu bod mewn cyswllt gyda’i gilydd. Felly, gallwch ddweud dw i wedi llenwi fy rhan i ac wedi anfon y cais atat ti i osgoi oedi. Dim ond 14 diwrnod sydd rhwng yr amserlenni. Byddwn yn anfon rhywbeth draw i ddweud yr hyn rydych angen ei wneud. Ydych chi’n parhau gyda cais ar y cyd? Ydych chi eisiau newid i gais unigol, yn hytrach na gadael pethau’n agored am gyfnod hir iawn? Felly, gyda hynny, mae’n well eu bod mewn cyswllt. Mae’r ddau wedi cytuno ac mae’r ddau yn gwybod beth sy’n digwydd. Heblaw am hynny, nid oes angen unrhyw fath o gytundeb ymlaen llaw rhyngddynt oherwydd gyda chais unigol, yn aml iawn, ni fydd yr atebydd yn gwybod beth sy’n digwydd nes bod nhw’n cael y gwaith papur. Yr unig beth arall bydda i’n ddweud yw mae’n syniad da i wneud ymchwil am ysgaru cyn i chi wneud eich cais ac archwilio i rwymedi ariannol.
Siân: Allwch chi ddweud beth yw rhwymedi ariannol?
Kimberley: Gallaf. Felly, rhwymedi ariannol yw pan fyddwch yn gwneud cais i’r llys i’ch helpu i ddelio â’ch materion ariannol ar ddiwedd eich ysgariad. Felly, mae beth dan ni’n alw’n gydsyniad yn gallu cael ei ddefnyddio i wneud gorchymyn toriad llwyr, felly beth fydd yn digwydd gyda’ch materion ariannol, beth fydd eich pensiwn, llety posib, ac ati, ac rydych chi eisiau i’r llys lofnodi a selio’r gorchymyn hwnnw. Felly, er enghraifft, os ydych wedi cael ysgariad ac wedyn mae un parti yn ennill y loteri, mae gennych y gorchymyn cydsynio sy’n dweud be’ di be’. Dan ni wedi gwahanu. Dyma ein cytundeb. Ni allwch drio cael fy arian loteri yn hwyrach mlaen. Cais ariannol sy’n cael ei wrthwynebu yw pan nad yw’r partïon yn gallu cytuno ar unrhyw beth. P’un a ydynt wedi trio cyfryngu neu beidio, maen nhw jest methu cytuno ac maen nhw angen barnwr i’w helpu i sicrhau bod pob dim yn cael ei rannu’n deg.
Siân: Dan ni wedi siarad am y broses ar-lein, ond beth os yw’n well gan rywun wneud cais ar bapur, ydyn nhw dal yn gallu gwneud hynny? Sut mae’r broses honno’n gweithio a lle maen nhw’n cael y ffurflenni?
Kimberley: Mae’r holl ffurflenni ar gael i’w huwchlwytho ar GOV.UK ac mae modd lawrlwytho pob un. Byddant yn llenwi’r gwaith papur i gyd, a bydd y cwestiynau i gyd yn yr un drefn ag y maen nhw ar y ffurflen ddigidol, ac yna rydych yn ei hanfon i’r cyfeiriad Blwch Post sydd wedi’i nodi ar y ffurflen, gan nodi sut rydych eisiau talu. Rydym yn derbyn taliadau trwy siec, archeb bost neu daliadau cerdyn dros y ffôn.
Siân: Ac os nad oes gan rhywun y dogfennau maen nhw eu hangen, er enghraifft, y dystysgrif priodas, beth dylen nhw ei wneud?
Kimberley: Os ydynt yng Nghymru neu Loegr, gallant gael copi o’r dystysgrif priodas gan y cofrestrydd. Rhaid talu ffi, ac os yw’n ysgariad tramor yna bydd rhaid i chi ofyn am gopi gan eich Swyddfa Dramor.
Siân: A oes unrhyw gamsyniadau am y broses ysgaru rydych chi eisiau eu cywiro?
Sarah: Dw i’n meddwl na un o’r pethau mawr yw pobl yn dweud, o, dw i wedi gwahanu ers 5 mlynedd, 10 mlynedd, mae’n iawn. Wneith y cais fynd drwodd. Ond nid felly mae o. Roedden ni angen rhywbeth. Llofnod gan y parti arall, neu beth dan ni wastad yn ddweud yw bod yna wahanol geisiadau gall pobl eu gwneud i symud yr ysgariad yn ei flaen heb lofnod. Fodd bynnag, dan ni angen bod yn hapus, rhaid i’r barnwr fod yn hapus eich bod wedi gwneud popeth i sicrhau bod yr unigolyn hwnnw wedi cael gwybod am yr ysgariad, hyd yn oed os nad yw’n ymateb, ond gall ddigwydd.
Kimberley: Dw i’n meddwl na camsyniad cyffredinol arall gydag ysgariad heb fai yw eu bod nhw’n meddwl bod ni jest yn nodi 20 wythnos yna - jest i ychwanegu amser, a dan ni wir ddim yn gwneud hynny. Nid oes rhaid i chi ddweud wrthym pam rydych yn cael ysgariad. Mae’n ysgariad heb fai, felly yr unig faen prawf yw eich bod wedi priodi am flwyddyn a diwrnod cyn y gallwch wneud cais, dyna’r cyfnod ystyried sy’n rhoi cyfle i bobl feddwl a bod yn siŵr na dyna beth maen nhw eisiau ac i roi amser iddynt hefyd i drefnu eu materion ariannol i edrych ar y tebygolrwydd o fod angen cymorth ariannol, oherwydd fel arall byddant yn cael eu cais ac yna’r gorchymyn terfynol o fewn pythefnos os nad yw’r cyfnod ystyried hwnnw yna. Rydym eisiau i chi gael yr amser hwnnw heb deimlo dan bwysau i’w wneud, felly dyna ble ddaeth y cyfnod o 20 wythnos a dyna pam bydd ysgariad arferol yn cymryd tua 37 wythnos neu’n hirach o ddechrau i ddiwedd.
Sarah: Dw i’n meddwl hefyd, gan bod ni’n sôn am faterion ariannol, rydych hefyd yn cael pobl yn camddeall pan fyddant yn rhoi tic yn y blwch ariannol yn y cais am ysgariad, bod hyn yn golygu’r holl faterion ariannol yn yr ysgariad, bod popeth am gael ei wneud gyda’i gilydd. Pan fyddant yn cyrraedd y cam gorchymyn amodol, gorchymyn terfynol, yna maen nhw fel, wel, mae popeth wedi’i sortio, ond mae’n gais ar wahân. Pan maen nhw’n dewis ‘Ie’ yn y blwch archwiliad ariannol yn y cais am ysgariad, maen nhw’n dangos i’r ochr arall eu bwriad i wneud cais am archwiliad ariannol, ond rhaid i bobl fod yn ymwybodol ei fod ar wahân ac mae hynny’n rhywbeth rhaid i chi ei drefnu.
Siân: Felly, ddaru chi sôn am amserlenni nawr. Pa mor hir y dylai pobl ddisgwyl y bydd rhaid iddynt aros, o ddechrau i ddiwedd, a lle mae’r cyfnod o 20 wythnos yn ffitio yn y broses?
Kimberley: Felly, pan fydd yn dod i law i ddechrau, bydd y cais yn cael ei gyhoeddi gennym. Fel arfer mae gennym amserlen o fis i adolygu’r cais a’i gyhoeddi. Ond fel arfer mae’n cael ei wneud yn llawer cynt na hynny. Mae’r cyfnod o 20 wythnos yn cychwyn o’r pwynt pan fydd y cais yn cael ei gyhoeddi. Felly, unwaith bydd yr achos wedi’i gyhoeddi gan y llys ac mae eich hysbysiad o achos a’r holl ddogfennaeth yn cael eu cyhoeddi i gadarnhau ei fod wedi’i gyhoeddi. Dyna pryd mae’r 20 wythnos yn cychwyn, ac unwaith bydd yr 20 wythnos wedi pasio bydd popeth yn grêt ac rydych yn gweithio gyda’r cais ar y cyd.
Rydych yn gwybod eich bod yn cael eich cydnabyddiaeth cyflwyno unwaith y bydd yr 20 wythnos drosodd. Rydym yn cyrraedd y pwynt a elwir y cam gorchymyn amodol. Dyma pryd byddant yn gwneud cais i’r gorchymyn amodol gychwyn y broses ysgaru go iawn, a bydd y tîm cyfreithiol yn edrych ar y cais. Felly dyma pryd fydd y cynghorwyr cyfreithiol yn edrych ar y cais hwnnw. Byddwn yn caniatáu 6-8 wythnos i hynny fel arfer, amser i’r cynghorwyr cyfreithiol edrych dros y cais ac yna amser i ni restru’r gwrandawiad. Nid yw’n wrandawiad y mae’n ofynnol i’r naill barti neu’r llall ei fynychu. Felly os ydych chi eisiau mynychu, rhaid i chi roi gwybod i’r llys ac yna byddant yn cael rhestr o achosion nifer o bobl ar yr un diwrnod a byddant yn adolygu’r cais ac yn cadarnhau eu bod yn hapus i gymeradwyo’r gorchymyn amodol hwn. Unwaith y bydd y gorchymyn amodol wedi’i ganiatáu, yna rhaid i 6 wythnos ac 1 diwrnod basio nes bod modd gwneud gorchymyn terfynol, a dyna ddiwedd y broses ysgaru bryd hynny.
Siân: Ac mae’r gorchymyn ariannol yn rhan o hwn, ac ydy hynny o fewn y 37 wythnos?
Kimberley: Ydy. Felly ni allant wneud cais am rwymedi ariannol gyda chydsyniad nes bod ganddynt orchymyn amodol. Dyma pam rydyn yn dweud y gallwch fod yn gweithio ar hwnnw am 20 wythnos. Unwaith mae eich gorchmynion amodol wedi’u caniatáu, gallwch wneud cais yn syth am orchymyn cydsynio. Y gorchymyn amodol yw pan nad yw’r llys yn gweld unrhyw reswm pam na allwch ysgaru neu wahanu neu gael diddymiad. A dyna beth rydym yn ei olygu gyda orchymyn amodol. Dyma’r llys yn dweud ni allwn weld rheswm pam ni allwch barhau gyda’r broses hon a chael ysgariad a’r gorchymyn terfynol yw dyfarniad terfynol yr ysgariad. Felly’r gorchymyn terfynol yw eich dyfarniad terfynol. Roedd yn arfer cael ei alw’n ddyfarniad absoliwt. Fe elwir yn orchymyn terfynol ac ysgariad heb fai bellach, ac mae hyn jest yn dweud mai dyma eich dyfarniad terfynol i ddweud eich bod wedi ysgaru.
Mae’n derfynol ac rydych bellach yn rhywun sydd wedi ysgaru, ac rydym yn nodi hynny arno ac mae’n allweddol bod fi’n sôn am hwn. Peidiwch a’i cholli. Cadwch hi’n ddiogel. Mae hi’n ddogfen gyfreithiol. Bydd arnoch angen talu am gopi a bydd rhaid i chi ei darparu os byddwch yn priodi eto, neu efallai byddant ei hangen fel cofrestrydd, neu efallai bydd rhaid i chi ei darparu os byddwch yn gwneud cais am brofiant. Os ydych yn ymdrin ag unrhyw ewyllysiau neu rywbeth felly gyda’ch banc. Os ydych yn newid eich enw trwy weithred newid enw, ac ati. Felly mae’n allweddol i gadw’r ddogfen honno’n ddiogel.
Siân: Beth ddylai rhywun wneud os ydynt angen help gyda’u cais?
Kimberley: Mae gennym dîm digidol sy’n gallu eich cynorthwyo i lenwi eich cais yn ddigidol. Gallant eich cynorthwyo gyda beth all y cwestiwn olygu, beth dach chi angen ei wneud, a sut i uwchlwytho rhywbeth. Dw i’n gwybod na un o’r pethau mae pobl yn straffaglu efo mwyaf yw, sut ydw i’n uwchlwytho rhywbeth? Sut ydw i’n ei drosglwyddo o fy ffôn i fod yn ddogfen wedi’i huwchlwytho? Dydw i ddim yn siŵr sut i wneud o. Sut ydw i’n tynnu llun a wedyn ei uwchlwytho? Sut mae cadw fo? Ble mae’n cael ei gadw? Felly dyna beth mae’r tîm yn dda , gallant fod ar gael dros y ffôn neu gallwch drefnu apwyntiad wyneb yn wyneb gyda nhw ymlaen llaw, a gallant eich helpu trwy’r broses honno. Mae hefyd yn ddefnyddiol i bobl all fod angen cyfieithydd yn bresennol gyda chi. Efallai byddwch eisiau cael sgwrs tair ffordd gyda’r cyfieithydd ac aelod o staff.
Sarah: Mae ein tîm gwasanaeth yma yn dda iawn, iawn. Mae gennym lawer iawn o brofiad. Nid ydym wedi hyfforddi yn y gyfraith. Fodd bynnag, rhwng yr holl asiantau a’r arweinwyr tîm a holl staff y gwasanaeth, mae gennym lawer o wybodaeth felly dan ni’n gallu helpu. Ni allwn ddweud wrthych yn union beth i wneud, ond gallwn egluro popeth am y prosesau, ac mae darllen y canllawiau ar y cychwyn yn helpu hefyd. Mae yna lawer o wybodaeth yna sy’n esbonio’r broses, amserlenni, a phethau fel na. Felly ie, gallwch wirio pethau wrth i chi fynd.
Sian: Felly mae rhywun wedi gwneud cais, beth sy’n digwydd nesaf? All bobl wirio sut mae eu cais yn dod yn ei flaen unwaith maen nhw wedi’i gyflwyno?
Kimberley: Gallant, felly ym mhob cam o’r ysgariad, byddwn yn ei diweddaru gyda hysbysiad. Os ydynt wedi gwneud cais ar bapur, cawn hysbysiad trwy lythyr. Os ydynt wedi gwneud cais digidol, byddant yn cael e-bost sy’n nodi bod gennym rhywbeth i chi weld neu bod hi’n amser i chi wneud cais am X, Y a Z a gallant mewngofnodi ac adolygu’r cais. Mae gan y dudalen hafan far defnyddiol ar frig y dudalen sy’n dangos i chi pa gam y mae’ch cais wedi cyrraedd. Mae’r holl rifau cyswllt wedi’u nodi yno hefyd. Yr adnodd sgwrsio dros y we, e-bost, y ffurflen we - mae popeth yno ar y dudalen, felly mae’r manylion cyswllt yno.
Sian: A ydych wedi dod ar draws unrhyw sefyllfaoedd anarferol yn eich gwaith, fel pobl yn newid eu meddyliau, er enghraifft?
Sarah: Trwy’r adeg. Weithiau mae’n digwydd. Weithiau dw i’n meddwl gall fod bod nhw wedi cael digon. Mae’n nhw wedi gwneud cais ac maen nhw’n ffonio bore Dydd Llun mewn panig. Doeddwn ni ddim wedi bwriadu gwneud o. Roedden i wedi cael ffrae. Dan ni’n cael llawer ohonynt.
Sian: Faint mae’n ei gostio i gael ysgariad?
Sarah: £612 yw’r gost llawn, gall pobl wneud cais am help i dalu ffioedd os ydynt ar incwm isel neu’n derbyn budd-daliadau.
Sian: Grêt! Yn olaf, gan edrych i’r dyfodol, beth sydd nesaf i’r gwasanaeth ysgariadau yn 2026, pa newidiadau sydd wedi’u cynllunio i wneud pethau’n haws i’r cyhoedd?
Kimberley: Mae na lawer o bethau ar ddod yn 2026 fydd yn gwneud bywyd ychydig yn haws o safbwynt digidol ar gyfer y defnyddwyr digidol, ac yna byddwn yn dechrau gweithio ar beth gallwn ni ei wneud i ddefnyddwyr papur i’w wneud yn haws iddyn nhw hefyd.
Sian: Dyna ddiwedd y bennod hon o Inside HMCTS. Diolch yn fawr i Kimberley a Sarah am rannu eu harbenigedd a’u mewnwelediadau. Os yr hoffech gael mwy o wybodaeth neu gychwyn eich cais, ewch i GOV.UK a chwiliwch am ysgariad. Fe gewch fanylion am eich gwasanaeth cymorth digidol os oes arnoch angen cymorth ychwanegol. Peidiwch ag anghofio edrych drwy ein penodau blaenorol a rhannwch y podlediad hwn gydag unrhyw un yr ydych yn meddwl y byddai’n ddefnyddiol iddynt. Diolch am wrando. Welwn ni chi’n fuan ym mhennod nesaf Inside HMCTS.
