‘No Fault’ Divorces

According to a recent survey, more than four out of five people believe that the law should be changed to allow an immediate ‘no fault’ option when filing for divorce.

Currently, married couples seeking an immediate divorce have to provide the Courts with evidence of adultery or unreasonable behaviour. A change in the Law, therefore, would accommodate couples who do not have evidence of any of these and who simply choose to end their marriage. It is suggested that this new option could allow for couples to divorce more amicably, creating less stress for all parties involved, particularly children.

Jo Edwards, Chair of family law organisation, said: “We know that our current fault-based divorce system achieves nothing besides escalating conflict during divorce. It does not act as a deterrent, nor does it help couples to salvage their marriage. The latest data from the Office of National Statistics shows that 114,720 people divorced in England and Wales in 2013, despite fault-based petitions.”

If you have decided to divorce and are looking for advice on how to proceed, call 01246 555 610 for a free initial consultation with one of our experienced solicitors.