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No more blame but challenges remain for divorcing couples

When the clock finally chimed for no-fault divorce, courts saw a surge in applications from couples looking to avoid the blame game. However, challenges still lie ahead for couples leaving a marriage. 

HM Courts & Tribunals Service has revealed that some 3,000 applications were made in the week that the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 came into force, compared with a weekly average of 2,000 over the previous year.

The new Act came into force on 6 April 2022 and the long-awaited change allows married couples to issue divorce proceedings without assigning blame.  Now, only a statement of irretrievable breakdown is needed to obtain a divorce. It also makes it possible to file for divorce jointly, to reflect some couple’s mutual agreement to part.  Previously, the only alternative to blaming one partner of adultery, desertion or unreasonable behaviour was to go through a period of separation. 

The aim is to make divorce less confrontational across the board, but will support victims of domestic abuse, as the application for divorce cannot be contested and they will be able to avoid making allegations requiring investigation or supporting evidence.  These are changes long demanded by victim support groups and the Act represents a major step forward for those looking to leave abusive marriages.

However, some aspects of the new rules are causing concern.   The Act requires that a minimum of 26 weeks elapses between the start of the divorce proceedings and the final divorce order being made. Professionals have highlighted that the new process could result in the other party finding out about the divorce proceedings with little notice asthe 26-week period of notification of proceedings runs from the date the petition is filed with the court, not from the date that proceedings are served on the respondent.  While the new rules nominally provide for service on the respondent within 28 days, in practice the applicant may not follow the provision and the court cannot reset the timetable if service is delayed. 

The applicant can apply for the conditional order at any time from 20 weeks after the filing of the papers at court, provided the respondent has been served at some stage, and then six weeks later the application can be made for the final decree. 

As long as the notice is served on the other spouse at some point before the end of the initial 20 weeks, this is sufficient notice in law for the divorce to proceed.  If the notice is received at a late stage, it could mean someone finds themselves with little opportunity to take legal advice, to manage finances or request special considerations, such as the divorce taking place in a foreign jurisdiction.

Once the final decree is granted, it may be too late to raise important matters such as sharing of pensions or other financial claims, as the Act does not require the financial order to be in place beforehand.

Being able to apply for a no-fault divorce is a huge step forward, but we see opportunities to reform the process by which financial arrangements and childcare provision are made on divorce.  It would also ease future marriage breakdown if there were formal recognition of prenuptial agreements, so couples had more certainty and avoid arguing about finances if the worst happens.

This is not legal advice; it is intended to provide information of general interest about current legal issues.

To talk to a member of our family law team, please call us on 01689 887887.

Although correct at the time of publication, the contents of this article are intended for general information purposes only and shall not be deemed to be, or constitute legal advice. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss as a result of acts or omissions taken in respect of this article. Please contact us for the latest legal position.