What are the legal implications of the Decree Absolute being granted?

There are 3 main stages to the divorce procedure in England and Wales and the final stage is the Decree Absolute. The Decree Absolute ends the marriage and once it is finalised, both parties are officially divorced and can remarry. The Petitioner may apply for a Decree Absolute six weeks and one day after the date of the Decree Nisi.

So, what actually changes once the Decree Absolute has been granted? Here we outline the legal implications…

* Inheritance

Once divorced, you will no longer inherit from your former spouse. If you haven’t already done so, it is important that you change your will to ensure that your wishes are enacted upon your death. If your ex-spouse leaves you anything, still identifying you as their spouse, and they subsequently die, it will be as if you pre-deceased them and the bequeathment will be