This is the fifth in a series of monthly legal columns by Grantham-based multi-service law firm JMP Solicitors. Established in 2000, JMP provides services for a diverse range of local and national clients from individuals, to companies and organisations.

Emma Darley, trainee chartered legal executive considers whether a 'no fault' divorce law be going ahead.

The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill, often referred to as the 'no fault divorce', has been working its way through the legislative journey for some time now and was approved by the House of Commons in June 2019. 

The bill provides much called for change to divorce proceedings in this country and has been welcomed by family law practitioners and indeed couples, many of whom may have chosen to delay initiating their divorce until the bill had been passed in an effort to keep their divorce amicable. 

The bill removes the current requirement for one party to blame the other for the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage.

Divorce can be stressful and emotional enough without being forced to apportion blame and create unnecessary animosity.

Following the proroguement of parliament on 10 September, it was feared that the bill had failed.

When parliament ends, any unfinished business comes to a grinding halt, to be taken up by the new parliament should they consider it an issue they wish to tackle.

It was feared that the considerable progress had simply been stopped in its tracks. 

However, since the ruling of the Supreme Court that the suspension of parliament was unlawful, meaning it was of no effect, there is renewed hope that the bill will be passed into law without further threat.

With the current political climate as it is, we watch with bated breath to see if this much called for reform completes its journey and marks an end of fault-based divorce. 

Emma Darley is a trainee chartered legal executive at JMP Solicitors. For further advice please call Emma on 0800 085 9966 or email [email protected].