Family Law Bill 2019

Public bill · Government · Presented

Makes it easier to end a marriage or civil partnership by shortening the required time spouses must have lived apart before applying for divorce or judicial separation, and it also lowers the waiting period for some contested judicial separations. It clarifies that two people can count as living apart even if they still share the same home, as long as they are no longer living together as a committed intimate couple. It also provides for Irish recognition of certain divorces, legal separations and marriage annulments from the UK or Gibraltar if Brexit happens without a deal covering family law.

Formal long title

Bill entitled an Act to amend the Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act 1989; to amend the Family Law (Divorce) Act 1996; to amend the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010; to make provision, in the event of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from membership of the European Union occurring without an agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union under Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union setting out the arrangements for such withdrawal, for the recognition of certain divorces, legal separations and marriage annulments granted in the United Kingdom or Gibraltar; and to provide for related matters.

Last updated 5 November 2019