In a speech last week to 400 family lawyers at Resolution's annual conference in Gateshead, Mr Shepherd renewed his commitment to pushing for no fault divorce in the United Kingdom, a development which he believes is key to limiting the amount of suffering and long-term relationship damage inflicted upon separating couples and their children.

'Bordering on cruel'

'We know that divorce is rarely easy, but a civilised society needs and deserves a civilised divorce process that doesn't make an already difficult situation worse,' he told audience members, adding that it was 'bordering on cruel' to require couples to allocate blame in order to satisfy the requirements of their divorce petition. Mr Shepherd cited a recent Resolution poll which found that around 25 per cent of separating couples falsify blame on their petition in order to help get their divorce over the line.

Upcoming bill

A Private Members Bill providing for no fault divorce is due to be re-introduced in the next session of the UK Parliament, which commences on 18 May. Mr Shepherd assured his audience that Resolution, which represents 6,500 family lawyers in England and Wales, will be working hard to ensure its passage. 'We will continue to make the case to the government, supported by charities, the judiciary, and the many others who know what we know: That couples and their children need to be protected from conflict that can do real long-term damage to families,' he said.

Sources: Family Law; Family Law Week; Resolution