Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020

The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 (c. 11) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which amends existing laws relating to divorce to allow for no-fault divorce in England and Wales.[1]

Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020
Act of Parliament
Long titleAn Act to make in relation to marriage and civil partnership in England and Wales provision about divorce, dissolution and separation; and for connected purposes.
Citation2020 c. 11
Introduced byRobert Buckland,Lord Chancellor (Commons)
Lord Keen of Elie (Lords)
Territorial extentEngland and Wales
Dates
Royal assent25 June 2020
CommencementBy way of future regulations after the passing of the Act
Other legislation
AmendsMatrimonial Causes Act 1973, Civil Partnership Act 2004
History of passage through Parliament
Records of Parliamentary debate relating to the statute from Hansard
Text of statute as originally enacted
Revised text of statute as amended

The government held that the changes were the biggest shake-up of divorce laws for 50 years and that the laws would reduce the impact that allegations of blame could have on families as under previous law one spouse was required to make accusations about the other's conduct in order to be granted a divorce.[2] Critics of the legislation had claimed that the introduction of no-fault divorce would make getting a divorce too easy.[3][4]

Provisions

Sections 1 of the Act made amended the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 allowing for parties to apply to the court for a divorce by stating that the marriage had broken down irretrievably without apportioning blame on either party.[5]

Section 2 of the Act provides for changes to the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 where an application of judicial separation has been made and removes the requirement for factual grounds to be provided where a judicial separation is sought.[6]

Sections 3 to 5 makes similar changes to the Civil Partnership Act 2004 to allow for the parties to apply to the court for dissolution by way of a statement that the civil partnership has broken down irretrievably.

The Act shall only apply to England and Wales.[7]

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See also

References
  1. "'No-fault' divorce bill backed by MPs". BBC News. 8 June 2020.
  2. "Divorce 'blame game' to end". Ministry of Justice. 7 January 2020.
  3. "No-Fault Divorce Would be a Disaster for Society". Coalition for Marriage. 17 May 2018.
  4. Buchanan, Abigail (10 April 2019). "Christian groups respond to easier-divorce plan". Church Times.
  5. "Section 1: Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020".
  6. "Explanation Notes: Clause 2: Judicial separation: removal of factual grounds".
  7. "Section 7: Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020".
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