Northern Ireland are looking at possibly changing their divorce laws.
The current law requires couples to either go through a lengthy separation before a divorce is granted.
Alternatively, proceedings can begin straight away if one person is at fault – either through desertion, adultery, or unreasonable behaviour.
Relate NI calls this process outdated.
At the moment, a couple can not apply for a divorce ( or in the case of a civil partnership – a dissolution) within the first two years of marriage.
Once that time period has been reached, a divorce petition must be based on at least one of five reasons:
- two years’ separation with the consent of the other spouse to divorce
- five years’ separation
- unreasonable behaviour
- adultery
- desertion
The same grounds apply for the dissolution of a civil partnership, with the exception of adultery.
The first option in this consultation is for the law to stay the same.
The second option is the introduction of an administrative, no-fault divorce, similar to England and Wales.
The third option is also a no-fault divorce, but closer to what is in place in the Republic of Ireland.