The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill, first introduced into Parliament in June 2019 after a public consultation – and which fell at the Dissolution – was reintroduced in the House of Lords on 7 January. Its purpose is to amend the law of England and Wales so as to allow one spouse, or the couple jointly, to make a statement of irretrievable breakdown – in effect, ‘no-fault’ divorce. It will also prevent one partner contesting a divorce if the other wants one – which, the Government says, has in some cases allowed domestic abusers to exercise further coercive control over their victims. In short, it should prevent a reoccurrence of the situation in Owens v Owens [2018] UKSC 41.

Specifically, the Bill will: Continue reading →