Divorce and the law
- In 1971 the Divorce Reform Act allowed a couple to divorce on the grounds of adultery, cruelty, desertion for at least 2 years, mutual consent (after 2 years), or if one person only wants a divorce after 5 years.
- The 1984 Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act allowed divorce after one year of marriage.
- In 1995 Lord Mackay introduced a white paper removing the need for "fault" in a marriage, but compelling couples to spend a year in meditation and encouraging them to negotiate either a reconciliation or a mutually agreeable separation.
- The Family Law Act 1996 allows divorce if the marriage has “irretrievably broken down”, after a period of “reflection and consideration”. This effectively removes any minimum time limit.
The changes in law have made divorce easier. The divorce rate over the last 20 years has increased to one in three marriages. Some people blame the new laws, saying divorce is too easy and couples need to try and sort out their problems rather than giving up. Others say the law simply reflects changes in society , and that couples should be allowed to decide for themselves whether to stay married.