New No Fault Divorce Law Explained for 2022
Married couples in England and Wales could soon find divorce proceedings quicker and less acrimonious under a No-fault Divorce system, which aims to end the divorce blame game.
No-fault divorce is set to come into legal effect in England and Wales on 6 April 2022. Under the new divorce law, it allows for a divorce without either party attributing fault or lengthy separation periods.
In effect, it removes the adversarial basis of many divorce cases, leading many to call it the biggest change to UK divorce law in 50 years.
In this article, we’ll explain how no-fault divorce will change how couples go about getting a divorce and the potential benefits and drawbacks of the new legal system.
Contents
What is No Fault Divorce?
No fault divorce is a divorce procedure that does not apportion blame to either party. The most important aspect of no-fault divorce is the removal of fault or blame from the divorce process.
Under the new divorce laws, couples will be able to file for divorce solely on the basis that the marriage has broken down.
The government’s Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 will reform the divorce process to remove the concept of fault.
Many legal professionals feel the current divorce laws are out of date and the changes seek to end the blame game that adds stress and pain onto thousands of couples each year.
The new divorce law changes are expected to come into effect on 6 April 2022 in England and Wales and will also apply to civil partnership dissolution.
Under the current divorce law, the only way to get a divorce in the UK without a statutory delay is if one spouse not only initiates proceedings but alleges fault on behalf of the other. This fault can be established with the court by using adultery, desertion, or unreasonable behaviour.
3 key things to know about the upcoming divorce law changes
Here is a breakdown of the key divorce law changes coming into effect on 6 April 2022.
- Couples can make a joint application for divorce The first change is that divorce proceedings no longer have to be initiated by one partner alone. Instead, a couple can make a joint application. While that may seem like a technical measure, supporters of the new law argue that it removes an in-built imbalance that undermines attempts to split amicably.
- Minimum of 20 weeks cooling off period The law lays down a minimum allowable period of 20 weeks between the initial application and the conditional order, and another six weeks between the conditional and final orders. That means that even the smoothest divorce will take at least six months to complete.
- Divorce can be granted without blame the current list of five permissible ways to prove the breakdown of marriage has been replaced by a single mechanism. Now all that’s required is for at least one spouse to provide a legal statement to say the marriage has broken down irretrievably. This statement counts as conclusive evidence and cannot be contested.
Why is a divorce law change necessary?
If you can’t or won’t allege one of these faults, you can only get divorced once you’ve been separated for two years if both spouses agree to the divorce, or five years if one spouse refuses.
Supporters of the changes argue the current system has several major flaws. For example, if a couple wants a quick divorce without delay, they must agree between themselves as to who will “take the blame.”
Even if it’s just a legal formality, working out who this should be and the details to present to the court can be an awkward and emotional process. It can even lead to resentment that spills over into the negotiations about financial settlements and childcare.
Indeed, part of the problem is that many people mistakenly believe that admitting to or being held at fault will affect a court’s decision on dividing assets.
Of course, not every couple will have the option to avoid this confrontation by going down the separation route.
Many find that it simply isn’t financially viable to live as two separate households for two years before starting divorce proceedings and formally reaching a financial settlement.
Another problem is with cases where one spouse no longer wants to be in the marriage but the other refuses to accept it is over.
The high bar for proving unreasonable behaviour means one spouse can often drag out the divorce until not only has the other left the marital home, but five years have passed.
This is exactly what happened in a case known as Owens vs Owens where the Supreme Court confirmed the current law.
The Justices noted that while the refusal to allow the divorce was legally correct, it left the wife “trapped in [a] loveless marriage.” They specifically suggested Parliament revisit the issue.
Common Questions About No-Fault Divorce
- When will no-fault divorce become law in the UK? The UK Parliament passed the Divorce and Dissolution Act in 2020 after much debate and it will now come into effect on 6 April 2022. The Court Service needs to create the regulations and systems needed to put the Act into effect.
- Can you get a no-fault divorce online? Yes, you can get a no-fault divorce online at the present time as there is the option to divorce after 2 years if you both consent. This does however require the consent of both parties, whereas, with a true no-fault divorce, no one can object to the divorce.
- What are the main benefits of a no-blame divorce? The main benefit of a divorce without blame is the parties do not need to make any allegations about the other person and this is hoped will reduce acrimony and allow the parties to separate and deal with their finances and children in a more constructive manner.
- Is it worth waiting for the law to change before filing for divorce? With the actual processes unlikely to be in place by April 2022 at a minimum, it may be too long for some people to wait to file for their divorce, especially if they have been separated for some time.
What are the benefits of no-fault divorce?
It is generally accepted that no-fault divorces better reflect modern relationships. Often none of the five ‘facts’ currently available, which need to be specified as evidence of the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage, fit with the real reasons for divorce.
Furthermore, insisting on the apportionment of blame for marriage breakdown can hinder the parties from reaching a divorce settlement and may be detrimental to mediation, as well as affecting any children involved.
Commenting on the forthcoming adoption of no-fault divorce in England and Wales, Aidan Jones OBE, Chief Executive at relationship support charity, Relate said:
“This much-needed change to the law is good news for divorcing couples and particularly for any children involved. The outdated fault-based divorce system led parting couples to apportion blame, often resulting in increased animosity and making it harder for ex-partners to develop positive relationships as co-parents.”
How will a No-Fault Divorce work?
In June 2020, Parliament passed the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020, which is now an act of Parliament.
The new law will retain the irretrievable breakdown of a marriage as the sole ground for divorce. However, the requirement to specify one of the five grounds for divorce with a ‘statement of irretrievable breakdown’ – thereby eliminating the requirement to administer any blame.
This is the biggest difference between the current divorce law and the new proposed no-fault divorce law.
The basis of the new law remains the same: divorce is only possible when a marriage has irretrievably broken down. However, the definition of an irretrievable breakdown has expanded to include two key changes.
The law does also allow for a joint statement, again increasing the opportunities for a mutual split to avoid artificial imbalances.
The relevant laws on the dissolution of a civil partnership will also be updated. The idea is that broadly the same system and principles, complete with the no-fault declaration of irretrievable breakdown, will apply to both divorce and dissolution.
Parliamentarians also took the opportunity to modernise and simplify some key legal terms in the divorce process;
- The “petitioner” will now be the “applicant”.
- The “decree nisi” will now be called a conditional order”
- And finally, the “decree absolute” will be called a “final order.”
That’s the latest step in a 20-year program of changes to make the language of civil courts more accessible.
Should I wait for the law to change before filing for divorce?
The most recent announcement from the Government regarding the delay in the implementation of the new divorce law has meant that couples seeking a quick divorce may still need to apportion blame on one spouse.
If you have been separated less than 2 years, you will need to either cite adultery or unreasonable behaviour as the reason for the breakdown of your marriage.
The Divorce, Dissolution, and Separation Act 2020 is now set to come into law on 6th April 2022, which could mean that starting your divorce now may make more sense.
We’ve outlined the pros and cons of waiting for a no-fault divorce in a separate article, which explains when it might make sense to wait until the new law is passed.
How long will a no fault divorce take?
While the new law will remove some delays (particularly in amicable divorces), it’s not a case of “instant divorce” as the measures have a built-in cooling-off period.
The government says this minimum period not only gives an opportunity for couples to reconcile but also gives breathing room to discuss practical arrangements if the split is inevitable.
The new law doesn’t change the rules on financial settlements or childcare. This means expert legal advice and representation will still remain vital for anyone going through the divorce process after No Fault Divorce comes into effect in 2022.
If you have any questions about the new divorce laws or want to explore your options before they take effect, please feel free to contact us.
Call us on 01793 384029 and speak to one of our professional and friendly divorce advisors today who will be more than happy to help you.
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