Today, Parliament announced that new divorce reforms will be introduced shortly.
The much-needed modernisation of the law breaks us away from the outdated 1973 Matrimonial Causes Act. Published proposals show how these new reforms focus on abolishing the need for couples to accuse the other for the irretrievable breakdown of their marriage, by adding the opportunity for couples to bring a joint application for divorce.
The reforms have sparked controversy amongst legal professionals, religious organisations and academics for fear that it would make it easier for couples to divorce, in turn eradicating the sanctity of marriage.
However, the new reforms present a new minimum time-frame of 6 months before the divorce is finalised allowing couples ample time to seriously reflect without haste to ensure that they are making the right decision.
The new law was announced by Justice Secretary David Gauke who acknowledges the sheer amount of conflict that can arise by asking couples to blame one another and how this affects children and can even impact their future development.
Darcy Mann, member of Family Law department at Swain & Co Solicitors says,
“The new reforms will no longer subject any involved children to avoidable hostility which until now they have often been exposed to”.
The new reforms also make it easier for victims of domestic abuse who are seeking to divorce their perpetrator.
It will no longer be possible to contest to a divorce brought by the other party. What’s more, a victim will not have to re-live the abuse suffered as the new reforms replace the requirement to provide evidence as ‘fact’ around behaviour or separation with just a statement detailing how the marriage has irretrievably broken down.
There are many options if you are seeking a divorce.
You can represent yourself, use a family lawyer on a pay as you go system, have legal representative handle all the paperwork and process OR family mediation.
To discuss your options for free, call our family law team on 02392 483322 or fill in our enquiry form and we will contact you back.
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