Our divorce laws have undergone some changes recently—but much more reform is required to catch up on societal changes, says family law solicitor Sarah Hughes, partner at Anthony Gold.
Writing in NLJ, Hughes outlines and reviews recent changes, such as forthcoming amendments (on 7 August 2017) to the Family Procedure Rules 2010, including the new ‘statement of truth’, and the creation of 11 regional divorce centres. She considers potential changes, including those related to the government’s ongoing consultation on ‘de-linking’ applications for a financial order from proceedings for a divorce. However, ‘the most important of all’ change—the introduction of ‘no-fault’ divorce—is yet to be made.
The recent refusal of a divorce to Mrs Owens, in Owens v Owens [2017] EWCA Civ 182, highlights this ‘most poignantly’, Hughes writes. See `Divorce & Dissolution' in this week's issue.
