The Family Law (Divorce) Act 1996

This text considers each section of the Family Law (Divorce) Act 1996, which comprises a code for the introduction of divorce in Ireland.

The Act contains five parts: commencement, interpretation, repeals and expenses; obtaining a decree of divorce; preliminary and ancillary reliefs which empower the courts to ensure htat proper provision has been made for spouses, children and other; taxation and pension reforms, income and capital taxes, probate tax and stamp duty; and miscellaneoous provisions.

Provisions include the obligation on solicitors acting for the parties to advise in relation to counselling, mediation, separation agreements and other matrimonial remedies falling short of divorce.

It also includes amendments such as the extension to the definition of "spouse" under the Domestic Violence Act 1996, to include divorced persons.