What will the ‘No Fault Divorce Bill’ mean for me?
Taking the leap to begin a divorce or dissolution is never easy and can be made more difficult by navigating the legal process. One aspect of this process is the necessity to specify a reason for the separation, which is set to change with the No Fault Divorce Bill currently being debated in parliament.
The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill had its first reading in the House of Lords on 7 January 2020 and its second reading is set for 5 February 2020. The Bill proposes to make dramatic changes to divorce laws in England and Wales, lessening the impact the current adversarial approach has on parties.
Table of Contents
- Divorce Petition: Grounds For Divorce
- What is the ‘No Fault Divorce Bill’?
- Final Thoughts: A Welcome Change to Divorce Law
Divorce Petition: Grounds For Divorce
Current divorce laws only allow one ground for divorce – irretrievable breakdown of marriage. The Petitioner proves this ground by relying on one of five “facts” as follows:
- Adultery;
- Unreasonable behaviour;
- Desertion;
- 2 years separation (with consent);
- 5 years separation.
It is rare for desertion to be cited as a reason for the irretrievable breakdown of marriage. The two current non-fault based reasons, 2 years separation with consent and 5 years separation, require a period to have passed before being able to use them.
Often parties either do not want to or cannot wait this long. That leaves two options; adultery and unreasonable behaviour.
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Adultery
If using adultery, it is possible to cite the “other” person as a co-respondent, but this then creates its own issues and is routinely advised against.
Citing adultery also requires the respondent to admit that adultery, which, if not forthcoming, could prove problematic.
Unreasonable Behaviour
That leaves unreasonable behaviour. To use this ground the Petitioner must “blame” the Respondent for causing the marriage to break down as a result of their behaviour and also persuade the court that their behaviour is such that the petitioner should not be expected to continue living with the respondent.
The Petitioner will therefore have to cite particulars of that behaviour, which might be difficult for the Petitioner to relive and might equally be difficult for the Respondent to read.
It is argued that this requirement to cast blame at the outset unnecessarily increases the temperature and sets the parties on a path of antagonism, rather than cooperation.
This is particularly concerning when the parties have children and need to be able to co-parent post the divorce.
The reforms set out in the new Bill recognises this and its aim is for the court system to support parties constructively through the process rather than being the wedge to push them apart.
What is the ‘No Fault Divorce Bill’?
The new Bill, if passed, will mean that the choice of 5 facts (to support the sole ground of irretrievable breakdown) is removed and replaced by the requirement to provide a statement of irretrievable breakdown. It will also be possible for parties to jointly apply.
‘No Fault Divorce Bill’: Ending the ‘Defending’ Against Divorce
Additionally, the Bill proposes to end the possibility of defending a divorce or dissolution. Although roughly only 2% of divorces are defended, it currently remains possible to contest a divorce or dissolution. The case of Owens (Appellant) v Owens (Respondent) 2018 UKSC 41 on appeal from [2017] EWCA Civ 182 has provided much of the impetus for this review of the legal process.
Mrs Owens issued her Petition in 2015 using the supporting fact of unreasonable behaviour. Mr Owens defended the petition, arguing the examples of his behaviour were not significant enough to satisfy the test.
Mrs Owens ultimately failed in her appeal to the Supreme Court with the appeal being dismissed unanimously, leaving the couple separated but remaining married, after several years of proceedings.
This was a deeply unsatisfying outcome for Mrs Owens.
The Bill proposes that the statement of irretrievable breakdown should be taken as conclusive evidence that the marriage has broken down irretrievably, and thereby removing the option for the respondent to defend the divorce/dissolution so that the outcome of Owens v Owens cannot occur again.
‘No Fault Divorce Bill’: A Change To Divorce Timelines
The Divorce Dissolution and Separation Bill also provides a minimum timeline of 20 weeks from petition to Decree Nisi, whereas no such requirement exists currently.
There is no change proposed to the 6-week period required between the Decree Nisi (or Conditional Order) and the Decree Absolute (or Final Order).
Click here for more details regarding the status of the No-Fault Divorce Bill
Final Thoughts: A Welcome Change to Divorce Law
Although the Bill is now with parliament, it is not known when it will come into force, but it is hoped that it will be passed into law in the not too distant future.
Please contact A City Law Firm for any family law assistance you require.