The Government has announced that is currently testing a fully online divorce application process across England and Wales for the first time.

The pilot scheme means someone who wants a divorce can apply online, which the Government says will make the process easier to understand and remove some of the stress during a difficult time for families.

The pilot was initially launched last year and according to the Government has reduced the number of applications being returned because of errors, with a 90% improvement compared to paper forms. It has apparently gained positive feedback, with people welcoming the simplified, streamlined and easy to understand system that delivers their application instantly – without the worry of it being lost in the post.

The next stages will include making the system available for use by legal representatives.

Family law organisation Resolution has said it welcomes the move to a fully digitised service as it brings divorce in line with many other Government services that have been digitised for some time now.

“Although the consequences of divorce, such as making arrangements for how parents will care for their children and sorting out the finances, can be complicated, the divorce itself is usually a relatively simple administrative process,” commented Resolution Chair, Nigel Shepherd. “Moving it online is a step in the right direction, provided it functions well for the couples, their legal representatives where they have them and anyone else involved. We hope to see positive results from this pilot.”

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