Unit 2 Task 3

【原文】 As the law stands today, it has to be shown that a marriage has irretrievably broken down before a divorce can be granted, and, unless the circumstances are exceptional, you must have been married for three years before you can apply for a divorce.     If you genuinely feel that your marriage has broken down beyond repair, your nearest divorce court can supply you with a booklet called Undefended Divorce, which outlines the necessary steps to take and five facts or grounds on which you can prove to a judge that your marriage has truly broken down. Briefly, they are as follows: 1. Separation for a period of two years by mutual consent with both partners agreeing to divorce. 2. Separation for a period of five years. In this case, either partner can start divorce proceedings without the other's consent. 3. Desertion for a period of two years, but you will have to supply evidence to show that you have been genuinely deserted. 4. Adultery, plus the fact that you cannot bear to continue living with your partner, although this does not have to particularly relate to the adultery. You will also have to produce substantial evidence to prove that adultery really has taken place. 5. Unreasonable behaviour, to the extent that you cannot expect to continue living with your partner. Again, you'll have to provide evidence to support this claim and, in many cases, it's wise to consult a solicitor before starting any proceedings on such grounds. Your personal idea of unreasonable behaviour may be very different from that held by the law. Boozy nights out with the boys might not make a man a roaring alcoholic, just as a possibly provoked slap might not brand him as a brute in the eyes of a judge. So make sure you really know what's required to satisfy the court first.