A new component of the online divorce system being set up by HM Courts & Tribunals Service should help cut delays for clients, according to one of the solicitors testing the system. Tony Roe, principal of Berkshire divorce and family firm Tony Roe Solicitors, is one of four practices picked to test the long-awaited solicitor extension to the online Get a Divorce system.

Currently only lay individuals can apply on the Get a Divorce system, via the gov.uk website. Law firms must still file paper applications via the relevant divorce centre.

‘Clients have been suffering from delays of months or even a year,’ said Roe. ‘Now, clients who instruct our firm in the pilot will see rapid progress within their divorce, something which the paper-based system cannot deliver.’

He said his firm has been issued with access to the digital application and case view screens, as well as a copy of practice direction 36E which supports the online filing of applications.

Tony Roe Solicitors is one of four firms taking pa rt in the pilot, a private beta test of the system. The others, all in London, are: International Family Law Group, Russell Cooke and Southgate Solicitors.