Divorce Reform Act 1969

The Divorce Reform Act 1969 (c. 55) was an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom in the United Kingdom. The act reformed the law on divorce in England and Wales by enabling couples to divorce after they had been separated for two years if they both desired a divorce, or five years if only one wanted a divorce. People could end marriages that had "irretrievably broken down" and neither partner had to prove "fault". It received royal assent on 22 October 1969 and became law when it commenced on 1 January 1971.

The law built on the Matrimonial Causes Act 1857 (20 & 21 Vict. c. 85), which allowed people to divorce without an Act of Parliament where there had been adultery and cruelty, rape, bestiality or incest, and the Matrimonial Causes Act 1937 (1 Edw. 8. & 1 Geo. 6. c. 57), which extended the eligible grounds for divorce to include cruelty, incurable insanity and desertion (of three years or more).

The act was passed only after lengthy and complex processes of negotiation, including a royal commission, discussion and eventual backing for the "irretrievable breakdown concept" amongst a group convened by the Archbishop of Canterbury, consideration by the Law Commission, and debate in Parliament.

The whole act was repealed by section 54(1)(b) of, and schedule 3, to the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, which came into force on 1 January 1974.

• Text of the Divorce Reform Act 1969 as originally enacted or made within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.