I'm a British woman who was previously married to a Moroccan man. We married in Morocco about 10 years ago. We divorced Islamically about 7 years ago, he gave me a verbal divorce (before he was deported back to Morocco following a domestic violence conviction) and I was satisfied with this at the time. No paperwork though. I was just relieved to be rid of him.
Fast forward to now, I want to start the process of getting a UK legally binding divorce so that I can be completely "free" of him. We have a child (who lives with me in the UK and was just a baby when the domestic violence happened). My husband never showed any interest in our child during the short time he had with the baby. Our child has no memories of the father.
If I start the UK divorce process, is there a way I can do this whilst keeping my residential address hidden from him? I know the court will need to serve papers on him, I've no idea of his current whereabouts. The only address I have is his parents address.
Anyone done a UK divorce against someone in Morocco? How smooth is the process? - @sunflowers1980
I’m sorry to hear about everything you’ve gone through. It sounds like a difficult journey, but it’s positive that you’re taking steps to secure a legally binding divorce in the UK so you can fully move on.
Since you mentioned that the Islamic divorce took place around seven years ago, you may be able to take advantage of the five-year separation rule under UK law. This rule allows you to get divorced without your ex-spouse’s consent, as long as you’ve lived apart for five years or more. If you include this in your application, the process could become much smoother.
If you’re unsure about his current address, you can provide the last known address, such as his parents’ in Morocco. If the court cannot serve him at that address, you could apply for alternative service methods or even ‘deemed service’ if it’s clear that he’s unlikely to respond.
To protect your privacy, you can request that the court keeps your residential address confidential. When completing your application, just tick the box asking to withhold your address from your ex-spouse, and the court will ensure it isn’t disclosed.
There are also several online divorce services you can explore, which charge a small fee to guide you through the process. You’ll still need to pay the court fees, but these services can make things easier to manage from home. A quick online search should provide you with a few reliable options.
I hope this helps, and I wish you clarity and peace as you move forward. If you need further advice, the Citizens Advice Bureau or a family solicitor can offer additional guidance.
Regards,
Arif Esa
