Play all audios:
New divorce laws are to be introduced so spouses will no longer have to blame each other for the breakdown of their marriage. Justice Secretary David Gauke announced the new laws on Tuesday,
April 8, in a bid to help reduce family conflict. Mr Gauke said: “Hostility and conflict between parents leave their mark on children and can damage their life chances. “While we will
always uphold the institution of marriage, it cannot be right that our outdated law creates or increases conflict between divorcing couples. “So I have listened to calls for reform and
firmly believe now is the right time to end this unnecessary blame game for good. The current law, which is some 50-years-old, states spouses have to provide evidence for a divorce if one
partner does not agree to it. The only way to obtain a divorce without a spouse's agreement at the moment is to either prove there was adultery, unreasonable behaviour or desertion, or
live apart for five years. WHAT ARE THE CHANGES? The changes will scrap the ability of a partner to contest a divorce and allow divorcing couples to make a statement that the marriage has
broken down. The new legislation will keep "irretrievable breakdown" of a marriage as the sole grounds for divorce. However, a six-month minimum period will be introduced between
the lodging of a petition to the divorce being made final. Spouses will also be able to make joint divorce applications, alongside the current option for one partner to start the process.
According to the Ministry of Justice the proposals for the changes to divorce laws in England and Wales include: * Proposals for changes to the law include: * Retaining the irretrievable
breakdown of a marriage as the sole ground for divorce * Replacing the requirement to provide evidence of a ‘fact’ around behaviour or separation with a requirement to provide a statement of
irretrievable breakdown