Emma Gill champions no-fault divorce as guest star on BBC Radio 2 ================================================================= ![Emma Gill champions no-fault divorce as guest star on BBC Radio 2](https://vardags.com/images/pictures/_360/2baf3e9036385c440ee7fa4cc6effaea.jpeg)[Emma Gill](https://vardags.com/staff/emma-gill/) discussed English divorce law and the need for change on today's popular [Jeremy Vine show](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006wr3p/episodes/player), hosted today by Vanessa Feltz. Speaking of Tini Owen's [high-profile fight](https://vardags.com/family-law/woman-appeals-refused-divorce-petition) to end her marriage, Emma emphasised how rare this case was, explaining that the vast majority of petitions go through the courts uncontested. She described how divorce lawyers try to limit damage when their clients have to give evidence of unreasonable behaviour with "anodyne petitions"describing the mildest misdemeanours. Though the tiffs over the laundry and in-laws they describe could well be part of the ebb and flow of marriage, they will generally be accepted by the courts. The fundamental issue which this case highlights, Emma argues, is that people have to give this kind of evidence to prove that the marriage has broken down. The only ground for divorce in English law is irretrievable breakdown, but it has to be evidenced by one of five facts: adultery, unreasonable behaviour, two years separation with consent, five years seperation, or desertion. It is the evidencing of this breakdown, Emma explains, which creates disharmony. Vardags has long campaigned for a change to [no-fault divorce](https://vardags.com/family-law/no-fault-divorce-bill-passes-first-reading). Emma explains that this would be more akin to the American system whereby one can cite irreconcilable differences instead of being forced to plead "every single misdemeanour that someone is guilty of over the course of a relationship". This, Emma warns, can get very ugly. "If you can't find your way back to each other, you should be able to exit your marriage in a dignified, straight-forward way", she says. "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) More Divorce news ----------------- [Accusations of non-disclosure and indecent images cloud Lisa Marie Presley's divorce](https://vardags.com/family-law/non-disclosure-indecent-images-lisa-marie-presleys-divorce "Accusations of non-disclosure and indecent images cloud Lisa Marie Presleys divorce") [Widespread media coverage as specialist divorce lawyer Ayesha Vardag calls for no-fault divorce](https://vardags.com/posts/ayesha-vardag-no-fault-divorce "Widespread media coverage as specialist divorce lawyer Ayesha Vardag calls for no-fault divorce") [Emma Gill champions no-fault divorce as guest star on BBC Radio 2](https://vardags.com/posts/emma-gill-bbc-radio-2 "Emma Gill champions no-fault divorce as guest star on BBC Radio 2") [Vardags' John Oxley advocates no-fault divorce on BBC Radio 5 live](https://vardags.com/posts/john-oxley-advocates-no-fault-divorce-bbc-radio-5-live "Vardags John Oxley advocates no-fault divorce on BBC Radio 5 live") [Woman appeals refused divorce petition](https://vardags.com/family-law/woman-appeals-refused-divorce-petition "Woman appeals refused divorce petition") Articles by Thea Dunne ---------------------- [Heterosexual couple lose Court of Appeal battle to enter into civil partnership](https://vardags.com/family-law/civil-partnership-challenge "Heterosexual couple lose Court of Appeal battle to enter into civil partnership") [Widespread media coverage as specialist divorce lawyer Ayesha Vardag calls for no-fault divorce](https://vardags.com/posts/ayesha-vardag-no-fault-divorce "Widespread media coverage as specialist divorce lawyer Ayesha Vardag calls for no-fault divorce") [Emma Gill champions no-fault divorce as guest star on BBC Radio 2](https://vardags.com/posts/emma-gill-bbc-radio-2 "Emma Gill champions no-fault divorce as guest star on BBC Radio 2") [Woman appeals refused divorce petition](https://vardags.com/family-law/woman-appeals-refused-divorce-petition "Woman appeals refused divorce petition") [Ayesha Vardag features in business success guide, 'This Book Will Make You Successful'](https://vardags.com/posts/ayesha-vardag-business-success "Ayesha Vardag features in business success guide, 'This Book Will Make You Successful'")