Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Divorce definition

What does Divorce mean? Divorce is the court process that ends a marriage and allows remarriage. In practice it involves a divorce application and, often in parallel, financial remedies (ancillary relief) and child arrangements, which are separate. In England and Wales (Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020; Matrimonial Causes Act 1973), a no‑fault regime applies: a sole or joint application is made on the single ground of irretrievable breakdown, evidenced by a statement. The court issues a conditional order and, after the statutory minimum period, a final order (replacing decree nisi/absolute). In Scotland (Divorce (Scotland) Act 1976), irretrievable breakdown is proved by adultery, unreasonable behaviour, or...

Divorce: restrictions and stays on making decree absolute—MCA 1973 ss 8–10A, FPR 2010; financial provision, religious divorces (Get), King’s Proctor—England and Wales (pre-DDSA 2020)

Published by a LexisNexis Family expert

Practice notes

The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 (DDSA 2020) took effect on 6 April 2022. All proceedings issued by the court on or after 6 April 2022 fall within DDSA 2020 and the revised procedural requirements in the amended Family Procedure Rules 2010 (FPR 2010), SI 2010/2955. For further information, see Practice Notes: Introduction to the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 and Restrictions on a conditional order being made final (post-DDSA 2020). Proceedings issued by the court on or before 5 April 2022 continue to progress under the pre‑DDSA 2020 regime, whether filed via the digital system or using paper forms. Those applications have not been affected at all by the commencement of DDSA 2020, nor by the associated procedural changes. This document sets out in detail the position for proceedings issued before 6 April 2022. Legislative amendments have been made as a consequence of DDSA 2020, including, notably, to FPR 2010, Pt 7...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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