Chapter 1 of 6 · Starting out · Earliest divorce date
When can I apply for divorce?
Rules verified2026-10-07Irish law asks for 2 years of living apart in the previous 3, and the periods can add up. Enter your dates and see the earliest application date, and how the one-year judicial separation route compares.
Your dates
When did you and your spouse begin living apart?
If you separated, got back together and separated again, add each period. The law adds them up: 2 years in total within the last 3 years.
The date is the earliest the living-apart condition is met. The court must also be satisfied that there is no reasonable prospect of reconciliation and that proper provision is made, and either spouse must be domiciled in Ireland or have lived here for the year before applying.