Policy & Resources Committee - P.2019/146
The States are asked to decide:-
Whether, after consideration of Policy Letter of the Policy & Resources Committee entitled 'Reform of the Matrimonial Causes Law', dated 23rd December 2019, they are of the opinion:-
1. To approve the proposals laid out in section 8 of the Policy Letter to reform the law relating to divorce, annulment and judicial separation of marriage.
2. To direct the Policy & Resources Committee working in partnership with the Committee for Home Affairs and in consultation with the Committees for Education Sport & Culture and Health & Social Care to investigate and take forward actions to improve access to information and support services relating to family law matters, as part of the work on Justice Policy to 'remove delay from systems and processes relating to the delivery of services to children and young people in need, and to ensure that such systems and processes are centred on the best interests of the child or young person concerned', before May 2020.
3. To direct the Committee for Home Affairs to consider and oversee the amendments required to the Domestic Proceedings legislation to align with the proposals in this policy letter to remove fault grounds.
4. To direct the preparation of such legislation as may be necessary to give effect to the above decisions.
The above Propositions have been submitted to Her Majesty's Procureur for advice on any legal or constitutional implications in accordance with Rule 4(1) of the Rules of Procedure of the States of Deliberation and their Committees.
