Proceedings under the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020

Key provisions of DDSA 2020

The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 (DDSA 2020) is in force from 6 April 2022 and has been referred to as the biggest reform of divorce law in England and Wales for 50 years. It removes the requirement to establish one of the five facts contained in section 1(2) of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (MCA 1973) to establish irretrievable breakdown of the marriage and allows married couples to divorce without assigning blame, popularly known as ‘no-fault divorce’. There are equivalent provisions amending the Civil Partnership Act 2004 (CPA 2004). The aim of the changes is to reduce conflict between couples who are either married or are in a civil partnership.

DDSA 2020 makes significant amendments to MCA 1973 and CPA 2004.

In summary, with effect from 6 April 2022, changes introduced by DDSA 2020 include that:

1. •

   while the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage or civil partnership is retained as the sole ground for divorce or dissolution, the requirement to prove evidence of one of the five facts