Excellent experience start to finish – always very responsive to any queries and the turnaround on the property I was buying was very quick, even in the busy time leading up to stamp duty deadline. Jenny was always very helpful and went above and beyond to close on a short timescale.
The latest on Divorce Law
It was announced on Tuesday that the Government are officially bringing an end to the need to blame your spouse if you wish to get Divorced. This is something family practitioners have been campaigning for, for quite some time and its fantastic news for separating couples that plans with regard to this are finally being put into action.
Currently to get divorced in England and Wales a Husband or Wife must prove that their marriage has irretrievably broken down due to one of five facts, which are:-
- Adultery
- Unreasonable Behaviour
- Two years separation, with consent
- Five years separation
- Desertion
As the Law stands today, if you wish to have an amicable divorce and not “blame” your spouse for the irretrievable break down of your marriage then you have to wait to petition for divorce until you have been separated for at least two years. Even then you need your spouse’s consent to do so. If you don’t have your spouse’s consent to get divorced after two years then you have to wait until you have been separated for at least five years.
This unfortunately means a long wait for couples wanting to remain amicable and not “blame” each other. Otherwise, the reason cited behind the irretrievable break down of a marriage will have to be the fault of the other spouse for either committing adultery or for their unreasonable behaviour. It is not possible to blame yourself for the irretrievable break down of a marriage.
Changes announced
It has been announced that the current criteria to rely on one of the five facts (noted above) for the irretrievable break down of the marriage will be replaced with the need to provide a statement of “irretrievable breakdown” and also a minimum timeframe of six months will be introduced from the Petition stage to pronouncement of Decree Absolute when the divorce is finalised.
The change to the law has been welcomed in the profession and will hopefully go towards easing hostility between separating couples. Many are hopeful that this change will also positively benefit children impacted by their parent’s divorce if one parent isn’t “blaming” the other for the marriage breaking down.
I am personally pleased to hear that change is finally coming and the positive impact this will hopefully have on families across the country.
If you need any advice regarding separation, divorce or any other family matter then please contact a member of the Family Team at our Manchester or Glossop offices.
Found this article useful? You might be interested in some of our others:
- Anita Shepherd, head of our Family Law team, discusses whether Divorce will eventually go online.
- Family Law department – Collaborative Law Q&A
- Anita Shepherd – partner and head of Family Law – asks: Why do I need to attend a MIAM before, upon or after consulting a family lawyer?
- Kirsty Morbey – associate solicitor – discusses: How Will Brexit Affect Family Law in England and Wales?
