Divorce "mud-slinging" to end

June 2019

The government has put its plans to remove "mud-slinging" from the divorce process on a legislative footing.  The Justice Secretary David Gauke recently introduced the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill to the House of Commons.

The bill will replace the requirement to evidence conduct or separation 'fact' with the provision of a statement of irretrievable breakdown. The possibility of contesting the decision to divorce will be removed. The court will be able to make a conditional divorce order after 20 weeks has passed from the start of proceedings.

Gauke said: 'Marriage will always be a vitally important institution in society, but when a relationship breaks down it cannot be right that the law adds fuel to the fire by incentivising couples to blame each other,' he said. 'By removing the unnecessary mudslinging the current process can needlessly rake up, we’ll make sure the law plays its part in allowing couples to move on as amicably and constructively as possible.'

Family lawyers welcomed the bill.

No date has been announced for the bill's second reading.