No fault: UK proposes major easing of divorce procedures

The British government is proposing to introduce "no-fault" divorces and make other changes to make it much easier for married couples to divorce.

Justice Secretary David Gauke Saturday began a consultation process to revise laws he said were "out of touch with modern life." If adopted after a 12-week consultation period, spouses would no longer be able to challenge a divorce application made by their partner.

The changes would apply to heterosexual marriages, same-sex marriages and civil partnerships.

The proposed new laws would mean it would no longer be necessary to prove misconduct or to live apart for a certain number of years before a couple could divorce.

New legislation would be needed to make these proposals law.