On Wednesday, 6 April 2022, the Divorce, Dissolution, and Separation Act 2020 came into effect. Introducing a new, blame-free divorce process.
The Evolution of Divorce Law
For nearly 50 years, ending a marriage required couples to:
- Accuse their spouse of adultery or desertion
- Detail their spouse’s behaviour
- Be separated for a specific period before proceeding
These requirements often made divorce more contentious and challenging. Fortunately, the new law eliminates these hurdles. Now, the only reason an applicant needs to provide is that the marriage has irretrievably broken down.
This change aims to reduce conflict and allow us to focus on resolving issues that matter to our clients, such as financial settlements or child care. The new process avoids wasting time and resources on disputes over the divorce petition (now called an “application”) and minimizes the acrimony that often hindered negotiations.
The goal is to make an already stressful time more manageable by removing the need for blame.
Blame-Free Divorce and Timelines
The new procedure also promotes consensus by allowing both parties to apply for the divorce together, if they choose. This should decrease hostility, reflect that the decision is mutual, and improve cooperation.
Concerns about the process being too swift or easy have been addressed. There is now a minimum of 20 weeks between starting the process and receiving the initial conditional order. Additionally, there must be at least 6 weeks between the conditional order and the final order.
We continue to support our divorce and dissolution clients through an efficient online portal, which is more streamlined than the old paper-based system. We guide clients through the new rules and procedures to ensure the best outcomes.
How we can assist
If you are experiencing or contemplating separation and need assistance or advice, then do get in touch. Call our Family Department on 01892 824577.
Alternatively, contact us online, and a team member will get in touch. You can find our online contact form here.
