It is positive to see this development for couples divorcing in Singapore. In England, no fault divorce will hopefully be available to couples from 6 April 2022, subject to court IT systems, rules and forms being ready. From that date a divorce can be sought without apportioning blame, or indeed a couple can mutually apply for a divorce if they wish.

In Singapore, a slightly different approach is being taken with couples being able to accept joint responsibility for the irretrievable breakdown of their marriage. That option is being added to the other grounds which will remain available as alternatives. Those choices include adultery, unreasonable behaviour, desertion or a period of separation, broadly equivalent to the English fault based grounds that couples here must use for the time being. However, in England those alternatives will be removed entirely from April next year.

Although it is a subtly different approach to our own, it is great to see the direction of travel towards lower conflict options.