Britain legalized divorce based on irreconcilable differences
Soon in England and Wales, married couples will be able to get a divorce faster and easier, without having to prove the reasons for their decision or find a guilty party to speed up the divorce process. Currently, to get a divorce in the shortest possible time (three to six months), spouses must prove that one of them is at fault: committed adultery, behaved unreasonably, or has not participated in family life for a long time.
However, if spouses cannot reproach each other for any of the above, they have to find evidence that they have not been in a relationship for at least a year if the divorce takes place in Scotland, and at least two years in the rest of the United Kingdom.
If only one spouse demands a divorce, they need to find confirmation that the couple has not been in a relationship for at least five years. The couple may live under the same roof but in separate rooms for the wife and husband. As the BBC notes, such a process can drag on for a long time.
According to Justice Minister David Gauke, the current rules force spouses who want to separate quickly to make artificial accusations against each other. This certainly negatively affects the overall situation, worsening an already painful process of breaking up.
The new rules will come into force after approval by parliament. They will allow married couples to separate if one spouse believes that the relationship has reached its logical conclusion and cannot continue. The other partner will no longer be able to block the divorce. This is important because previously, in some, albeit rare, cases, one spouse could influence the court's decision to continue abusing the relationship with the other half, using force or psychological manipulation.
As before, the divorce process will take place in two stages: court approval and subsequent issuance of a divorce certificate. Under the new law, it must be completed within six months from the date of filing the official application. Before signing the final documents, the applicant must confirm again that they have not changed their mind and want a divorce.
The government says this period will give people enough time to make a thoughtful decision and also allow them to change their mind if they wish.
Read also related material:
FEATURES OF NATIONAL DIVORCE