23 June 2020
Three decades of campaigning for no-fault divorce came to fruition last week after the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill cleared its final parliamentary hurdles
The Bill now goes for Royal Assent. However, the Lord Chancellor, Robert Buckland told MPs it is not likely to take effect until autumn 2021 as ‘time needs to be allowed for careful implementation’.
The Bill received support from all sides of the House. Several amendments were tabled but either withdrawn or defeated. Once the law is in force, couples seeking divorce will no longer need to assign blame.
Long-time campaigner and former family lawyers group Resolution chair, Nigel Shepherd said: ‘This is the biggest reform of divorce laws in England and Wales in over 50 years, demonstrating just how outdated and old-fashioned fault-based divorce is.’
