Editing Divorce (section)

==Overview==
Grounds for divorce vary widely from country to country. Marriage may be seen as a [[contract]], a [[personal status|status]], or a combination of these.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.law.harvard.edu/faculty/jhalley/cv/1-behind_the_law_of_marriage.2.15.11.pdf|title=Behind the Law of Marriage|website=Law.harvard.edu|access-date=2015-04-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150325150342/http://www.law.harvard.edu/faculty/jhalley/cv/1-behind_the_law_of_marriage.2.15.11.pdf|archive-date=2015-03-25|url-status=live}}</ref> Where it is seen as a contract, the refusal or inability of one spouse to perform the obligations stipulated in the contract may constitute a [[ground for divorce]] for the other spouse. In contrast, in some countries (such as Sweden,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.domstol.se/funktioner/english/matters/family/divorce/|title=Sveriges Domstolar - Divorce|website=Domstol.se|date=2005-12-07|access-date=2014-09-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915205356/http://www.domstol.se/funktioner/english/matters/family/divorce/|archive-date=2014-09-15|url-status=dead}}</ref> Finland,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.suomi.fi/suomifi/english/services_by_topic/families_and_social_services/living_together/divorce/index.html%7D|title=Suomi.fi|website=Suomi.fi|access-date=21 September 2018|archive-date=5 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805194156/https://www.suomi.fi/welcome-to-the-renewed-suomifi|url-status=live}}</ref> Australia,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.familylawcourts.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/FLC/Home/Separation+and+Divorce/Divorce/|title=Separation and Divorce|website=Familylawcourts.gov.au|access-date=2014-09-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924063536/http://www.familylawcourts.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/FLC/Home/Separation+and+Divorce/Divorce|archive-date=2014-09-24|url-status=dead}}</ref> New Zealand),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.justice.govt.nz/family-justice/separation/divorcing|title=Getting a divorce (dissolving a marriage or civil union)|website=Justice.govt.nz|access-date=2014-09-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915203122/http://www.justice.govt.nz/family-justice/separation/divorcing|archive-date=2014-09-15|url-status=dead}}</ref> divorce is purely [[no-fault divorce|no fault]], meaning that parties may separate of their own free will without having to prove someone is at fault for the divorce. Many jurisdictions offer both the option of a ''no fault'' divorce as well as an ''at fault'' divorce. This is the case, for example, in many [[Grounds for divorce (United States)|states of the US]], [[France]] and the [[Czech Republic]].<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web|url=https://gawron.cz/basic-information-about-divorce-proceedings-in-the-czech-republic/|title=Basic information about divorce proceedings in the Czech Republic|access-date=11 January 2019|website=gawron.cz|last=Gawron|first=Tomáš|archive-date=30 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220330035034/https://gawron.cz/basic-information-about-divorce-proceedings-in-the-czech-republic/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Though divorce laws vary between [[jurisdiction]]s, there are two basic approaches to divorce: fault based and no-fault based. However, even in some jurisdictions that do not require a party to claim fault of their partner, a court may still take into account the behavior of the parties when dividing property, debts, evaluating custody, shared care arrangements and support. In some jurisdictions, one spouse may be forced to pay the attorney's fees of another spouse.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oceansidedivorcelawfirm.com/divorce/will-my-spouse-have-to-pay-my-attorney-fees/ |title=Will my spouse have to pay my attorney fees? |publisher=Steven Fritsch, Attorney at Law |access-date=2013-04-12 |date=2012-11-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130429182558/http://www.oceansidedivorcelawfirm.com/divorce/will-my-spouse-have-to-pay-my-attorney-fees/ |archive-date=2013-04-29 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Laws vary as to the waiting period before a divorce is effective. Also, residency requirements vary. However, issues of division of property are typically determined by the law of the jurisdiction in which the property is located.<ref>{{cite web|title=Divorce Act|url=http://usdivorceonline.org|access-date=2019-09-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926115618/http://usdivorceonline.org/|archive-date=2017-09-26|url-status=live}}</ref>

In Europe, divorce laws differ from country to country, reflecting differing legal and cultural traditions. In some countries, particularly (but not only) in some former communist countries, divorce can be obtained only on one single general ground of "irretrievable breakdown of the marriage" (or a similar formulation). Yet, what constitutes such a "breakdown" of the marriage is interpreted very differently from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, ranging from very liberal interpretations (e.g. [[Netherlands]])<ref>Note: The very fact that one of the spouses advances facts for the existence of the irretrievable breakdown itself constitutes 'a very serious indication that an irretrievable breakdown does exist" {{cite web |url=http://ceflonline.net/wp-content/uploads/Netherlands-Divorce.pdf |title=Netherlands - Divorce |website=Ceflonline.net |access-date=2014-09-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220192803/http://ceflonline.net/wp-content/uploads/Netherlands-Divorce.pdf |archive-date=2014-12-20 |url-status=dead }})</ref> to quite restrictive ones (e.g., in [[Poland]], there must be an "irretrievable and complete disintegration of matrimonial life", but there are many restrictions to granting a divorce).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ceflonline.net/wp-content/uploads/Poland-Divorce.pdf |title=Poland - Divorce |website=Ceflonline.net |access-date=2014-09-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220192800/http://ceflonline.net/wp-content/uploads/Poland-Divorce.pdf |archive-date=2014-12-20 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/civiljustice/divorce/divorce_pol_en.htm|title=European Commission - European Judicial Network - Divorce - Poland|website=Europa.eu|access-date=2014-09-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924172930/http://ec.europa.eu/civiljustice/divorce/divorce_pol_en.htm|archive-date=2014-09-24|url-status=live}}</ref> Separation constitutes a ground of divorce in some European countries (in [[Germany]], e.g., a divorce is granted on the basis of a 1-year separation if both spouses consent, or 3-year separation if only one spouse consents).<ref>"The marriage can be dissolved if it has broken down. The marriage has broken down if the parties to the marriage are no longer cohabiting and if it cannot be expected that the parties will resume matrimonial cohabitation (Section 1565 (1) BGB). There is an irrefutable presumption that the marriage has broken down if the parties have been living apart for one year and both apply for divorce or if the respondent consents to the divorce. After a separation period of three years, there is an irrefutable presumption that the marriage has broken down, without any comments being required from the parties to the proceedings (Section 1566 (2) BGB)" ([http://ec.europa.eu/civiljustice/divorce/divorce_ger_en.htm ec.europa.eu] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924174728/http://ec.europa.eu/civiljustice/divorce/divorce_ger_en.htm |date=2014-09-24 }})</ref> Note that "separation" does not necessarily mean separate residences – in some jurisdictions, living in the same household but leading a separate life (e.g., eating, sleeping, socializing, etc. separately) is sufficient to constitute ''de facto'' separation; this is explicitly stated, e.g., in the family laws of Latvia<ref>"Section 73 of the Civil Code explains the circumstances under which spouses can be considered to be living separately, namely, if the spouses do not share a household and one of the spouses refuses outright to maintain a joint household whereby the possibility of marital cohabitation is denied. Separate occupation by spouses of a common dwelling does not necessarily signify a joint household." ([http://ec.europa.eu/civiljustice/divorce/divorce_lat_en.htm ec.europa.eu] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924165742/http://ec.europa.eu/civiljustice/divorce/divorce_lat_en.htm |date=2014-09-24 }})</ref> or the Czech Republic.<ref name=autogenerated1 />

Divorce laws are not static; they often change reflecting evolving social norms of societies. In the 21st century, many European countries have made changes to their divorce laws, in particular by reducing the length of the necessary periods of separation, e.g., [[Divorce in Scotland|Scotland]] in 2006 (1 or 2 years from the previous 2 or 5 years); [[Divorce law by country#France|France]] in 2005 (2 years from the previous 6 years),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.angloinfo.com/france/how-to/page/france-family-marriage-partnerships-divorce|title=Divorce in France|access-date=15 June 2016|website=Angloinfo.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807225156/https://www.angloinfo.com/france/how-to/page/france-family-marriage-partnerships-divorce|archive-date=7 August 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Switzerland]] in 2005 (2 years from the previous 4 years),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.binational.ch/en/?Preliminary_remarks___General|title=Binational.ch - General|website=Binational.ch|access-date=2014-09-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924040951/http://www.binational.ch/en/?Preliminary_remarks___General|archive-date=2014-09-24|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Divorce law by country#Greece|Greece]] in 2008 (2 years from the previous 4 years).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.ohchr.org/English/bodies/cedaw/docs/54/CEDAW-C-GRC-7.pdf|title=Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women|website=2.ohchr.org|access-date=2014-09-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911080817/http://www2.ohchr.org/English/bodies/cedaw/docs/54/CEDAW-C-GRC-7.pdf|archive-date=2014-09-11|url-status=live}}</ref> Some countries have completely overhauled their divorce laws, such as [[Spain]] in 2005,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/civiljustice/divorce/divorce_spa_en.htm|title=European Commission - European Judicial Network - Divorce - Spain|website=Europa.eu|access-date=2014-09-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924042532/http://ec.europa.eu/civiljustice/divorce/divorce_spa_en.htm|archive-date=2014-09-24|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Divorce law by country#Portugal|Portugal in 2008]]. A [[divorce in Belgium|new divorce law]] also came into force in September 2007 in [[Belgium]], creating a new system that is primarily no-fault.<ref>Note: Although there is no need to prove fault in order to obtain a divorce, some serious faults affect the [[alimony]] ([http://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/cgi_loi/loi_a1.pl?DETAIL=1804032130%2FF&caller=list&row_id=1&numero=11&rech=14&cn=1804032130&table_name=LOI&nm=1804032150&la=F&dt=CODE+CIVIL&language=fr&fr=f&choix1=ET&choix2=ET&fromtab=loi_all&trier=promulgation&chercher=t&sql=dt+contains++%27CODE%27%26+%27CIVIL%27and+actif+%3D+%27Y%27&tri=dd+AS+RANK+&imgcn.x=34&imgcn.y=10 ejustice.just.fgov.be] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003042037/http://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/cgi_loi/loi_a1.pl?DETAIL=1804032130%2FF&caller=list&row_id=1&numero=11&rech=14&cn=1804032130&table_name=LOI&nm=1804032150&la=F&dt=CODE+CIVIL&language=fr&fr=f&choix1=ET&choix2=ET&fromtab=loi_all&trier=promulgation&chercher=t&sql=dt+contains++%27CODE%27%26+%27CIVIL%27and+actif+%3D+%27Y%27&tri=dd+AS+RANK+&imgcn.x=34&imgcn.y=10 |date=2012-10-03 }}).</ref> Similarly, in the UK, under the new divorce law that came into force in April 2022, the person initiating the divorce process no longer has to blame their spouse for the breakdown of their marriage.<ref>{{Cite web |title=International Divorce |url=https://imd.co.uk/services/international-family-law/international-divorce/ |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=IMD Solicitors {{!}} Legal Solutions for Global Families |language=en-GB}}</ref> 

[[Divorce law by country#Bulgaria|Bulgaria]] also modified its divorce regulations in 2009. Also in [[Divorce law by country#Italy|Italy]], new laws came into force in 2014 and 2015 with significant changes in Italian law in matter of divorce: apart from shortening of the period of obligatory separation (6 months for consensual separations and 1 year for contested ones from the previous 3 years), are allowed other forms of getting a divorce – as an alternative to court proceedings, i.e. the negotiations with the participation of an advocate or agreement made before the registrar of Public Registry Office.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.boccadutri.com/italian-divorce/ |title=Italian Divorce and Separation Law &#124; Boccadutri International Law Firm |website=Boccadutri.com |date=2016-05-05 |access-date=2017-05-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517013139/http://www.boccadutri.com/italian-divorce/ |archive-date=2017-05-17 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Austria]] by contrast is a European country where the divorce law still remains conservative.<ref>Note: in certain circumstances, such as where there is neither agreement of spouses nor 'fault', there is a need of a separation of between three and six years ([http://ec.europa.eu/civiljustice/divorce/divorce_aus_en.htm ec.europa.eu] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924172944/http://ec.europa.eu/civiljustice/divorce/divorce_aus_en.htm |date=2014-09-24 }}, {{cite web |url=http://ceflonline.net/wp-content/uploads/Austria-Divorce.pdf |title=Austria - Divorce |website=Cefonline.net |access-date=2014-09-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220192757/http://ceflonline.net/wp-content/uploads/Austria-Divorce.pdf |archive-date=2014-12-20 |url-status=dead }})</ref>

The liberalization of divorce laws is not without opposition, particularly in the United States.{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}} Indeed, in the US, certain conservative and religious organizations are lobbying for laws which restrict divorce. In 2011, in the US, the Coalition for Divorce Reform was established, describing itself as an organization "dedicated to supporting efforts to reduce unnecessary divorce and promote healthy marriages".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://divorcereform.us/about/|title=About|publisher=Coalition For Divorce Reform|date=29 January 2012|access-date=2014-09-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141004054428/http://divorcereform.us/about/|archive-date=2014-10-04|url-status=live}}</ref>{{undue weight inline|date=October 2022}}

The [[magisterium]] of the Roman Catholic Church founds the concept of marriage on [[Natural law#Christianity|natural moral law]], elaborated by St. [[Thomas Aquinas]], supplemented by the revealed [[Divine law]]. The doctrine of the [[Doctor of the Church|Doctor Angelicus]] has been partially shared by the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] in the course of history.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://blogs.ancientfaith.com/orthodoxyandheterodoxy/2015/10/20/review-orthodox-readings-aquinas-marcus-plested/ |title=Review of 'Orthodox Readings of Aquinas' by Marcus Plested |website=ancientfaith.com |access-date=4 January 2019 |date=20 October 2015 |first=Dylan |last=Pahman |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011053535/https://blogs.ancientfaith.com/orthodoxyandheterodoxy/2015/10/20/review-orthodox-readings-aquinas-marcus-plested/ |archive-date=11 October 2018 }}</ref>