“Blame game” to end as Divorce Bill receives Royal Assent. It is now official. there will be a No fault divorce system in England.

The press release from the MOJ and the Rt. Hon. Robert Buckland QC MP on the 26th June 2020 confirms the position including that:

‘The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act will:

  • Replace the current requirement to evidence either a conduct or separation ‘fact’ with the provision of a statement of irretrievable breakdown of the marriage (for the first time, couples can opt to make this a joint statement).
  • Remove the possibility of contesting the decision to divorce, as a statement will be conclusive evidence that the marriage has irretrievably broken down.
  • Introduces a new minimum period of 20 weeks from the start of proceedings to confirmation to the court that a conditional order of divorce may be made, allowing greater opportunity for couples to agree practical arrangements for the future where reconciliation is not possible and divorce is inevitable’.

‘The changes will not come into effect until later next year to allow careful implementation of the necessary changes to court, online and paper processes’.

It now becomes a waiting game to see how quickly the forms can be processed and the procedure can be implemented. It has not been long since the petition for divorce was last amended. 

For further information see:

https://tinyurl.com/y7cx6whm