Divorce Cases
OLIVER W. LLEWELLYN is a divorce lawyer who understands that ending a marriage can be a devastating experience. Our competent and dedicated divorce lawyer works hard to achieve a speedy divorce process, making a painfully difficult time just a little less complicated.
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About Us
Oliver W. Llewellyn has focused his legal practice to predominantly divorce matters for over 20 years. He has developed skills in the area of divorce that significantly reduce the risk of requisitions being placed on his divorce documents filed at the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court in Jamaica will put a requisition on a divorce document that is filed in the Court by an Attorney-at-Law if the document is not in order. This can lead to a delay in the divorce being granted and is one of the factors that lead to a backlog of divorce cases at the Supreme Court in Jamaica.
The cost of a divorce in Jamaica varies. It may be expensive, or it may be cheap. It depends on the lawyer that deals with the matter. The client usually shops around to find out the cost that each lawyer charges, but it should be noted that it would be in a client’s best interest to find out the experience and reputation of lawyers in the area of divorce.
Clients are usually concerned about the length of time that the divorce process takes. Based on experience, a quick or speedy divorce can take approximately four (4) months if there is no relevant child/children, and the divorce is not contested.
Division of matrimonial property or spouse maintenance may not affect a divorce being granted. However, maintenance of relevant child/children may affect the granting of the divorce. The Court must be satisfied that the arrangements for custody, maintenance, care and upbringing of the relevant child/children are the best that may be devised in the circumstances of the particular case before the divorce is granted.
FAQs
How to get a divorce or the requirements for a divorce in Jamaica?
Before you start a divorce, there are certain fundamental requirements that must be met:
- You must have gone through a valid marriage
- You must be a Jamaican national or an ordinary resident in Jamaica for twelve (12) continuous months prior to the filing of the divorce
- The marriage must have broken down irretrievably, that is, beyond repair.
- You must be married for at least two (2) years prior to the filing of the divorce, unless the Supreme Court grants permission to do otherwise.
- You must be separated for at least twelve (12) continuous months prior to the filing of the divorce.
Separation?
Separation means that the responsibilities and obligations under the marriage have ceased or come to an end and it usually results with one of the party moving out of the matrimonial house permanently.
However, the parties may be separated and live separate lives doing everything for themselves while living in the same house. In this case, the Court is interested to know which of the party will eventually move out of the matrimonial house.
There are a few cases where the parties separated on the night of the wedding and were seeking a divorce the next day. These cases involved married couples with strong religious belief in which one of the parties had a particular expectation, which was not forthcoming.
Oliver W. Llewellyn shares the view that an exhaustive premarital counselling would help to reduce the incident of marital breakdown.
Do the parties have to attend Court?
A person filing a divorce is no longer required to go to Court. Instead, affidavits are filed on the person’s behalf by his lawyer. The Divorce Court in Jamaica, which is now a Judge or Master in Chamber without the parties or their lawyers, will consider the divorce.
Efforts to reconcile the marriage.
The Court is interested to know whether or not the parties received counselling during the marriage, and if so, by whom and whether or not it was successful, or whether the parties did not seek counselling because they did not think counselling could help to save the marriage.
The Court is also interested to know whether or not an attempt was made to save the marriage since separation and whether or not the parties resumed cohabitation (living together as man and wife) since separation.
Oliver W. Llewellyn shares the view that the Court in Jamaica does everything to save marriages and reduce the incidents of marital breakdown.
There are diverse views on divorce, especially by religious advocates. In light of the legal implication of marriage, if the marriage is “dead” what is the best thing to do? Talk to us!
Get In Touch
Contact Info
Address 1 :
Kingston 93 East Street, Kingston
Address 2 :
May Pen Shop 9 May Pen Arcade, Bryants Crescent, May Pen, Clarendon
Phone: (876) 902-7858 / (876) 902-7859 / (876) 796-5455
WhatsApp: 876-909-5524
Email: [email protected]
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Fridays : 8:30 am to 4:00 pm