New online divorce form could lead to surge in adultery allegations =================================================================== ![New online divorce form could lead to surge in adultery allegations](https://vardags.com/images/pictures/_360/993990142d617dba15dd53c447e08fd6.jpeg)The online divorce pilot introduced this week could lead to a dramatic rise in adultery allegations, solicitors warn. "The new form flatly asks for 'the name of the person your spouse has committed adultery with'," Vardags director [Georgina Hamblin](https://vardags.com/staff/georgina-hamblin/)explained to the [BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-40899859). In the older version of the form, the term adultery was not used and the person in question is described more unobtrusively as a co-respondent. It is not required to name the co-respondent when filing for divorce and citing adultery, and divorce solicitors often advise against doing so. However there may now be a flurry of unhappy petitioners bringing their spouses' lovers into proceedings. "This is an invitation which I fear most broken hearts will not be able to refuse," Georgina said. The new online form is a streamlined version of the current divorce petition, designed to be simpler and more accessible for litigants. The current paper-based divorce system requires documents to be filed in triplicate and can be rejected for trivial procedural reasons. It is anticipated that the move to online petitions will greatly alleviate the burden on the court system and speed up proceedings. However there is a risk that the form in its current wording would amount to a step backwards for family law. In a [speech](https://vardags.com/family-law/munby-de-linked-online-divorce/) earlier this year, Sir James Munby, President of the Family Division celebrated such procedural improvements but emphasised the need for more substantive reform of divorce law, including most significantly, new legislation for [no-fault divorce](https://vardags.com/law-guide/alternative-dispute-resolution/no-fault-divorce). A rise in acrimonious adultery allegations would not be conducive to this vision of amicable splits Vardags' team of [top divorce lawyers ](https://vardags.com/services/divorce)delivers bespoke legal services to HNW and UHNW individuals, their families and businesses. Learn more from [Vardags' divorce guides](https://vardags.com/guide/divorce-guides). Glossary Reference ------------------ ### Adultery Involves one spouse having sexual intercourse with a person who is not their spouse. A ground for divorce. Also known as: having an affair. "Ayesha Vardag - Britain's top divorce lawyer." ![The Huffington Post](https://vardags.com/images/logo/huffpost.png) "Ayesha Vardag - Woman of the Year"![GG2](https://vardags.com/images/logo/gg2-3.png) "Leading, Magic Circle law firm."Mr Justice Coleridge "A handful of firms dominate the so-called 'glamour' end of the market ... Vardags"The Times "One of the best divorce lawyers in the country"Marie Claire "Ayesha Vardag - 'diva of divorce' for the world's super rich" ![BBC](https://vardags.com/images/logo/bbc.png) "Dr Stephen Bence is a financial genius."Lewis Marks KC "Ayesha Vardag - the Queen of divorce"Daily Mail "Vardags brilliantly argued my case to a resounding victory"Pauline Chai (client) "Britain's top divorce lawyer" ![The Telegraph](https://vardags.com/images/logo/telegraph.png) Articles by Thea Dunne ---------------------- [Deceased financier's "greedy" former girlfriend loses High Court bid for his millions in Joseph v Farrer & Co](https://vardags.com/family-law/peter-cundill-trust-fund-joseph-v-farrers "Deceased financier's 'greedy' former girlfriend loses High Court bid for his millions in Joseph v Farrer & Co") [Simon Sugar, barrister at 1 Garden Court, on inheritance claims and the Family Bar](https://vardags.com/family-law/simon-sugar "Simon Sugar, barrister at 1 Garden Court, on inheritance claims and the Family Bar") [New online divorce form could lead to surge in adultery allegations](https://vardags.com/family-law/online-divorce-form-adultery-surge "New online divorce form could lead to surge in adultery allegations") [Oregon parents fight to regain custody of children taken from them because of their low IQ](https://vardags.com/family-law/parents-custody-low-iq "Oregon parents fight to regain custody of children taken from them because of their low IQ") [Top family judge gives legal judgment in form of letter](https://vardags.com/family-law/justice-jackson-letter-judgment "Top family judge gives legal judgment in form of letter")