Divorce

In England and Wales there is only one ground for divorce and that is – that the marriage has broken down irretrievably.  The fact of such irretrievable breakdown must be evidenced by one (or more) of five supporting facts:-

(a)    Adultery
(b)    Unreasonable behaviour
(c)    Desertion for 2 years
(d)    Separation for 2 years with the consent of the other spouse to the divorce
(e)    Separation for 5 years

Before filing a petition for the dissolution of a marriage the spouses must have been married for at least 1 year.

Either party is entitled, further to the commencement of formal divorce proceedings, to apply for financial provision whether by way of a maintenance order, a lump sum payment or an adjustment of their interest in property, pensions and other assets owned solely or jointly.