While adultery may be personally devastating and painful, it is not – legally speaking – a ground for divorce in England and Wales. No-fault divorce under the Divorce and Dissolution Act, 2020 (which came into force in England and Wales in April 2022) means the sole reason an application for divorce can be made is that the marriage or civil partnership has broken down irretrievably.
Of course, if you suspect that your partner is having an affair it may well be that you decide to apply for divorce. Irrespective of any legal or procedural considerations unfaithfulness in a marriage will often lead to separation and divorce.
Before starting the divorce process it is usually worth seeking legal advice to find out what your legal options are. An initial discussion with an experienced family lawyer will give you an idea of what the outcome of your divorce might be in terms of finances and child arrangements and support.
You might also wish to consider engaging an independent investigator to establish whether or not your fears of an adulterous relationship are warranted. Once you have the facts you will be on solid ground in any discussion you initiate with your spouse about the possibility of a divorce.
If you do decide to apply for a divorce your legal representative will discuss the possibility of reconciliation with you and provide you with details of organisations that can help in efforts for you and your spouse to reconcile.
If you want to find out more about divorce and the various steps in the process, you can get in touch with us for an initial, no-obligation discussion. No-fault divorce means you don’t need to include details of adultery on your divorce application. In our experience this can make it easier to reach agreement on issues like childcare and division of property.
Or call us: +44 (0)20 7430 8470