11 September 2019

No Fault Divorce Cannot Be Forgotten

CILEx is concerned that the proroguing of parliament, which marks the end of the current parliamentary session, will see the demise of the much anticipated Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill which had been on the verge of passing into law. The bill sought to redefine the divorce process in England and Wales, by bringing an end to the unnecessary and often artificial ‘blame-game’ that parties have to go through when ending their marriage/civil partnership. 

Echoing many of the views put forward by our members working in family law, CILEx welcomed the bill and its role in remedying the outdated and adversarial process which is out of touch with modern day family law principles.

“Here is a bill which rightly breaks away from a divorce law with ‘blame’ at its heart, whilst remaining patient in providing periods of reflection and reconciliation for those making a life changing decision. We have seen cross-party support, industry support and public support for its passing, and yet it is slipping through the cracks by virtue of prorogation. Our divorce law is no longer fit for purpose; it stands at odds with family law principles of minimising harm, it is over 45 years old, and it will only continue to prevent members of the public from seeking the closure that they deserve. The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill provided a direct and straight forward solution. It cannot be forgotten and CILEx will be pushing for it to be reintroduced in the next parliamentary session so that it can eventually continue its way towards Royal Assent.”