Grounds for divorce
To obtain a divorce, you must have been legally married for at least one year and the relationship must have broken down irretrievably for one of the five reasons (grounds) listed below:
- Adultery: you will not need to name the person with whom your spouse has been unfaithful, unless he or she denies the claims and you need to produce evidence.
- Unreasonable Behaviour: this is the most common ground for divorce and requires one party to describe the way in which their spouse has behaved such that they can no longer live together.
- Desertion: your spouse has deserted you, resulting in you living apart for at least two years.
- Two Years' Separation With Consent: both partners must agree to this, and you need to have lived apart continuously for two years.
- Five Years' Separation Without Consent: if you have been living apart for five years, you can apply for divorce without your spouse’s consent.
For more details on divorce or on any of our services for families, please contact us. Alternatively, please download our 
Guide to Divorce and Separation.
