Divorce purposes have reached their highest stage for a decade after no-fault laws was launched in England and Wales, figures present.
In April divorce legal guidelines have been overhauled for the primary time in 50 years, giving married {couples} the choice of beginning divorce proceedings while not having to apportion the blame for the breakdown of their marriage.
There have been 33,566 divorce purposes in April to June, with the bulk underneath the brand new no-fault divorce laws and from sole candidates, in line with knowledge from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).
The variety of purposes was the very best for the reason that first quarter of 2012 – greater than a decade in the past – and is up 22% from the identical interval in 2021.
Of the purposes between April and June, the overwhelming majority (33,234) have been made underneath the brand new regulation.
The regulation change additionally launched a brand new minimal interval of 20 weeks, for “meaningful” reflection, between beginning proceedings and making use of for a conditional order.
Before the no-fault divorce regulation was launched, except adultery, unreasonable behaviour or desertion might be confirmed, candidates needed to stay individually from their partner for 5 years to be able to get divorced.
Under the outdated divorce regulation, there have been 19,758 decree absolutes (ultimate orders) granted in April to June, down 35% from the identical quarter in 2021.
For these divorcing underneath the outdated regulation, there was an increase within the common time of proceedings.
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Rules earlier than the no-fault divorce regulation was introduced in
‘A very long time coming’: No-fault divorce regulation launched in England and Wales
The common time from date of petition to obtain a decree nisi (conditional order) was 36 weeks, up 12 weeks from the identical interval in 2021.
And the common interval from date of petition to decree absolute was 56 weeks, up seven weeks from the equal quarter in 2021.
The MoJ stated the elevated time frames have been impacted by resourcing points which have led to backlogs.
Source: information.sky.com”