{"id":1260,"date":"2018-01-20T09:00:16","date_gmt":"2018-01-20T09:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/?p=1260"},"modified":"2020-05-12T14:10:42","modified_gmt":"2020-05-12T14:10:42","slug":"grounds-for-divorce","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/2018\/01\/20\/grounds-for-divorce\/","title":{"rendered":"Grounds for Divorce \u2013 5 Things You Need To Know"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"GroundsForDivorce\"<\/a>Think you may have grounds for divorce? There are five reasons for the breakdown of marriage or civil partnership\u00a0you can rely on:<\/p>\n

1. Adultery\u00a0\r\n<\/em>2. Unreasonable Behaviour\u00a0\u00a0\r\n<\/em>3. Desertion\u00a0\r\n<\/em>4. Two\u00a0Years Separation With Consent\u00a0\r\n<\/em>5. Five\u00a0Years Separation Without consent<\/em><\/pre>\n
But read on because there are different rules for each reason …<\/p>\n
1. Adultery<\/h4>\n
Adultery is sexual intercourse between a man and a woman.<\/p>\n
If you are still living together, make sure you start your divorce or dissolution within six months of discovering the adultery.\u00a0The third party (the \u201cco-respondent\u201d) is rarely named as little can be achieved.<\/p>\n
Controversially adultery can only be with a member of the opposite sex. If you are in a same sex marriage or civil partnership, you will have to rely on unreasonable behaviour instead.<\/p>\n
2. Unreasonable Behaviour<\/h4>\n
This is behaviour which you<\/em> think is unreasonable. This can be very serious behaviour such as violence or other form of domestic abuse<\/a>. Or it might be that your other half shows\u00a0no interest in you, is unsupportive, or spends all their time at work.<\/p>\n
But please take care.\u00a0In the unlikely event your other half defends the divorce there can be problems if the Court doesn’t consider the behaviour serious enough. If you have any doubts at all take expert legal advice. See our post “Why You Need A Family Lawyer To Check Your DIY Divorce Petition”<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Timing is important. The\u00a0unreasonable behaviour\u00a0needs to have been within the last six months if you are still living together. Or perhaps\u00a0the behaviour is continuing? In which case, timing is not a problem.<\/p>\n
3. Desertion<\/h4>\n
A\u00a0rarely used ground. Desertion is when your other half leaves you for two years without your agreement, and for no good reason other than to end the relationship. This doesn’t have to be a continuous period but must be within the last two and a half years. Up to six months of resumed\u00a0living together\u00a0doesn’t count.<\/p>\n
4. Two Years Separation with Consent<\/h4>\n
Here there\u2019s no blame. But patience is required as you will need to live apart\u00a0for two years. You also need to know that your other half will definitely sign to say they agree to the divorce.<\/p>\n
5.\u00a0Five Years Separation without Consent<\/h4>\n
Another rarely used ground. If you have lived apart for five\u00a0years and your other half doesn’t agree to a divorce, this is the reason you can rely on.<\/p>\n
Contact Joanne Houston on 01962 217640 for\u00a0free advice\u00a0on\u00a0the grounds for divorce. In this 20 minute session we will:<\/h3>\n