The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill would be a welcome shake-up for divorce law

We were pleased to note that the Queen’s 2019 speech announced that the Domestic Abuse Bill and the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill will be reintroduced.

The Domestic Abuse Bill is designed to give more protection to domestic abuse victims and their children and offer better support. In particular it will emphasise that domestic abuse can also include emotional, coercive or controlling, and economic abuse, awareness of this type of abuse has been raised in recent years.

The Dissolution and Separation Bill is something that has been campaigned for in recent years, it includes introducing no fault-divorce and aims to assist in reducing conflict between families.

Managing Partner, Terry Bastyan, commented “following the Queen’s Speech The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill entered the Parliamentary process on 7^th January 2020. If passed it will represent the biggest shake-up of divorce laws in half a century and aims to reduce the impact that allegations of blame can have on a couple and in particular children. Currently, one spouse has to make accusations about the other’s conduct, such as ‘unreasonable behaviour’ or adultery, or otherwise face years of separation before a divorce can be granted – regardless of whether a couple has made a mutual decision to separate. It is a welcome and long awaited change”.

You can read the full The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill here and follow its progress through Parliament, it is currently awaiting a date for the 2nd reading which will be the general debate on all aspects of the Bill.