Couples wishing to divorce will soon benefit from a less confrontational process, under proposals confirmed by the justice secretary David Gauke

Couples in England and Wales will soon no longer have to allocate blame or mutually agree to end their marriages. The justice secretary, David Gauke, will introduce legislation in the next session of parliament to remove the need for separating couples to either allocate blame or wait for years in order to get a divorce.

Supporters, who say the current law fuels acrimony and encourages false allegations, hope that the change will prevent unnecessary conflict and family upset.