A recent article in the Times newspaper claims that couples will be able to divorce online this year under plans that could open the way for the abolition of fault-based grounds for ending marriage. The article also states that ministers are preparing a pilot project to allow divorce proceedings to be issued digitally for the first time, in order to save time, paperwork and stress for thousands of separating couples. It goes on to say that Sir James Munby, England’s most senior family judge, is backing this plan and it will be tested before being introduced across England and Wales in June 2017.
Following these reports, Tony Roe, Family law solicitor and arbitrator, has spoken to the HMCTS in light of the Times article and has stated:
‘It would be wrong to think that a complete digitalised divorce process will happen any time soon. At best only the petition may be available to complete online by the end of the summer, possibly.’
It seems, therefore, that the modernisation of divorce is a long way off, however, excitement and expectation is growing amongst family law practitioners as to when the first digital petition or pilot scheme will be released.