What did the Divorce Reform Act 1969 do?
Table of Contents
What did the Divorce Reform Act 1969 do?
The Divorce Reform Act 1969 made the sole ground for a petition of divorce, presented by either party, that the marriage has broken down irretrievably. More recently, marriage has been opened up to partners of the same sex, while heterosexual couples will be able to obtain civil partnerships.
When did divorce become easier?
A private members' bill in 1923 made it easier for women to petition for divorce for adultery, but it still had to be proved. In 1937, the law was changed and divorce was allowed on other grounds including drunkenness, insanity and desertion.
Why was divorce frowned upon?
Generally divorce is frowned upon, as marriage is considered a sacrament and the couple have made promises in front of God to stay together for life. An annulment can only happen if the marriage has not been consummated or it can be proved that the marriage should never have taken place.
How common was divorce in the 1800s?
In the 19th century, divorce was rare, and generally considered taboo. Unhappy couples would often separate but not legally get divorced. But there were a few pioneers who did legally part ways. In fact, in 1880, the rate rose to 0.4 for every 1,000 Americans with 20,000 divorces, and it increased again in 1887 to 0.5.
