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<p>In April 2022, the Government implemented the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation
Act (“DDSA”) 2020. The DDSA provides a minimum period of 26 weeks to obtain a divorce,
and benefits victims of domestic abuse by making it no longer possible for abusive
respondents to exercise control by ‘defending’ a divorce and prolonging proceedings.
The DDSA did not provide an exemption for domestic abuse victims from the 26-week
minimum period because to do so would require a victim to set out allegations, risking
further abuse by a perpetrator.</p><p>The Government is working with the Family Procedure
Rule Committee to consider whether a pilot can be established to test a new, fast-track
procedure for contested financial cases on divorce under a certain value threshold.
The pilot will aim to provide swifter outcomes for litigants, including victims of
domestic abuse.</p>
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