Digital Divorce and Other Electronic Developments
More than 110,000 divorce proceedings were begun in 2015, but soon the bulk of divorces may take place over mobile phones and computers. The Government has continued with the digitisation of various legal processes across England and Wales, and this includes divorce proceeding. HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) piloted a scheme last year which enabled people to apply for a divorce online, print off the form and send it to court. In the first week HMCTS received 130 online applications. Susan Acland-Hood, HMCTS Chief Executive, said of the changes: “These measures are drastically cutting the number of applications returned because of errors – streamlining the process and ensuring we are best supporting people going through a difficult and often painful time.”