This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament
Rejected petition Change the divorce process for victims of domestic abuse.
The divorce process is very lengthy and complex. It should be simplified for victims of documented domestic abuse to obtain a divorce without the consent of their partner. Examples of documentation are police, solicitor, medical reports, proof of court order, or social care involvement.
More details
Leaving an abusive relationship is not only extremely difficult both mentally and physically but also when the victim is most at risk. The process of divorce adds extra strain onto the victim leaving them feeling still under the control of the abuser, especially if the abuser contests the divorce or fails to respond. This lengthens the process considerably, which can have a major impact on the mental health of the victim and can impact their recovery.
This petition was rejected
Why was this petition rejected?
It’s not clear what the petition is asking the UK Government or Parliament to do.
Petitions need to call on the Government or Parliament to take a specific action.
We understand that you are concerned about how easy it is for victims of domestic abuse to seek divorce, but we're not sure exactly what you'd like the Government or Parliament to do.
Unreasonable behaviour, including physical violence and verbal abuse, is a ground for divorce and does not require agreement of both parties. Deciding whether to grant a divorce is a matter for the courts, not the Government or House of Commons.
If there are specific changes you would like the Government to make to rules for divorce, you could start a new petition stating clearly what changes you want to be implemented.
We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.