Couples will be allowed to file for no-fault divorces and spouses will lose the right to contest a marriage breakdown in the first major overhaul of divorce laws in 50 years.

Currently, if spouses do not provide evidence their partner cheated, behaved unreasonably, or deserted them, they must wait two years if both partners agree to the divorce, or five years if one does not consent.

Justice secretary David Gauke will announce the consultation on no-fault divorce and call for the abolishment of the existing fault-based system, reports BuzzFeed.

Government proposals, which are yet to be finalised, would keep the sole legal ground for divorce as irretrievable breakdown but remove the need to specify a reason for the break-up of the marriage.

Couples will be allowed to file for no-fault divorces and spouses will lose the right to contest a marriage breakdown in the first major overhaul of divorce laws in 50 years

The government also plans to end the ability for spouses to contest the divorce, and will propose a minimum timeframe of six months.

In July, campaigners called for Britain's divorce laws to be changed after Tini Owens was told she must stay married to her husband of 40 years Hugh Owens until 2020.

He has refused to agree to the split because he says she is just 'bored' and insists they still have a 'few years' to enjoy life together - despite his 68-year-old wife cheating on him and living in a different house.

Top judges backed previous court rulings that Mrs Owens has failed to establish that her marriage had irretrievably broken down, as required by law.

Resolution, a group of family lawyers who campaign on change for divorce law, have said the current system 'creates conflict' and must be changed to remove 'the need to blame from the divorce process'.

Labour's shadow justice secretary, Richard Burgon, told BuzzFeed. 'Instead of yet another consultation, the Conservatives should get on with changing our divorce laws so that they are fit for the 21st century.'