In April 2022, new rules came into play with regards to UK divorce law. For too many years, couples have had long battles to end their marriages, playing the blame game, with courts needed to establish blame for the break down of the relationship. The introduction of the no-fault divorce in the UK has been a game changer, and a welcome change that not only results in a more harmonious separation, but also shortens the process, makes it less costly and allows individuals to move on quickly with their lives, avoiding the stress and embarrassment of having to prove or admit guilt in the break down of a relationship.

Simply put, a no-fault divorce is a type of divorce in which the spouses do not have to prove that one spouse caused the breakdown of the marriage by engaging in certain conduct, such as adultery or cruelty. Instead, the spouses can simply state that the marriage is irretrievably broken or that there are irreconcilable differences and seek to end the marriage on that basis.

In a no-fault situation, neither spouse has to prove that the other did something wrong in order to obtain a divorce. This type of divorce is available in many jurisdictions throughout America already and is often faster, less expensive, and less contentious than a fault-based separation, which requires one spouse to prove that the other is at fault for the breakdown of the marriage.

If you are not ready to divorce, you can also ask for a legal separation. This is an option for couples who want to see if they can work out their differences, or if for religious reasons, they do not feel comfortable with getting divorced.

It’s also worth looking at our advice for child arrangement orders as you will need to work out any child arrangements that need to be made before your no-fault divorce can be officially finalised.