No-fault divorce, what changed in 2022 and why it matters

April 2022 was the most significant moment in English divorce law for over 50 years. The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 removed the requirement to prove fault, adultery, unreasonable behaviour, desertion, and replaced it with a simple statement that the marriage has irretrievably broken down. Either party can file; neither can contest.

By 2023, 74.2% of all divorces were granted under the new no-fault legislation. 96% of 2024 applications were made digitally. The divorce itself has become substantially more accessible.

What hasn't changed is the financial side. No-fault divorce says nothing about how assets should be divided. That remains a matter of negotiation, and making any financial agreement legally binding still requires a consent order. The reform makes the divorce easier. The financial agreement is still up to you.