Divorce Laws Around the World

Before the introduction of no-fault divorce 1970s, divorce in the United States and many other developed countries could be a difficult process. Back then it was necessary for one spouse to be at fault for some kind of wrongdoing, such as adultery. If no wrongdoing was involved, it was necessary to pretend something had happened. Fortunately the laws have changed, but there is still much variation in divorce laws around the world.

There are still many countries where divorce is not legally recognized. Although most industrialized countries around the world permit divorce, there are a few surprising exceptions. For example, it is far more difficult to get a divorce in Ireland than most other Western European countries: divorce only became possible in 1995, and even still two spouses must be separated for four of the past five years before they can divorce.

In Pakistan, although divorce is a legally recognized practice, the laws are designed to discourage divorce as much as possible. As a result, the divorce process is longer and more complex than in most of the industrialized world. Rather than simply submitting some paperwork, the husband must declare his divorce in front of witnesses and submit written notices to the government and his wife. The spouses must then wait at least 90 days and appear before an arbitration council before it can be final.

Divorce laws in Japan are very permissive and similar to those in most of the Western world. In particular, divorce in Japan does not require any official legal approval at all. Two spouses only need to consent to a divorce for it to be enacted: it is not necessary to involve lawyers, courts, or arbitration. Similarly to other industrialized countries, two spouses need only fill out a form with two witnesses and submit it to the local registry.

If you and your spouse live in the United States, you have the option of getting a no-fault divorce. No-fault divorces are a quick and straightforward way of ending a broken marriage, giving both of you the opportunity to begin anew.

If you are considering a divorce, visit the website of the Oceanside divorce lawyers of Fischer & Van Thiel, LLP for the legal assistance and information you need.