WRDA Welcomes Progressive Reform of Divorce and Civil Partnership Legislation in Northern Ireland
26 September 2025 – The Women’s Resource and Development Agency (WRDA) has responded to the Department of Finance Consultation on Reform of Divorce and Dissolution of Civil Partnership Legislation, welcoming the proposed reforms as a necessary and timely modernisation of the current legal framework.
The WRDA supports the introduction of no-fault divorce and dissolution, a move that will significantly reduce the adversarial nature of relationship breakdowns and promote healthier outcomes for families.
The WRDA highlights three key reasons for supporting the reforms:
Reduction of Adversarial Process
The shift to no-fault divorce focuses on the reality of relationship breakdown rather than assigning blame, helping to reduce emotional and legal conflict.Alignment with Other Jurisdictions
The reforms bring Northern Ireland in line with family law practices in England, Wales, Scotland, and the Republic of Ireland. WRDA strongly advocates for the inclusion of provisions that recognise separation even when couples remain in the same household, ensuring fairness for those facing financial constraints.Gendered Impact and Protection of Victims
The current fault-based system disproportionately affects women, especially those leaving abusive relationships. The proposed changes will remove barriers to justice, reduce re-traumatisation, and align with both domestic equality duties and international human rights obligations, including CEDAW and the Istanbul Convention.
For further information, please contact:
Elaine Crory – elaine.crory@wrda.net
Meghan Hoyt – meghan.hoyt@wrda.net
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