On April 6, the need for divorcing couples to place blame on one of themselves will end as no-fault divorce comes into effect for England and Wales after years of campaigning by family lawyers. They argue that the removal of blame from the divorce process will help more people to rebuild their lives and protect the well-being of their children.
In a comment, Sarah Ingram, Partner at Winckworth Sherwood, said: “This is a welcome step in the modernisation of divorce. Not only will the removal of blame from the breakdown of a marriage and couples in reaching swifter financial agreements, but also by removing the need to prove facts such as adultery or unreasonable behaviour, it will help to keep private details out of court hearings. This is particularly important at a time when the prospect of greater press reporting in the Family Courts is looming on the horizon, following the publication of the President’s report in October 2021, which will affect everyone, not only high-profile couples.”
