Official: divorce 'cooling-off' period not for all couples
A "cooling-off" period before divorce proceedings are finalized should not be used in domestic violence cases, a civil affairs official said on Friday.
Under the Civil Code, which comes into effect on Jan 1, couples will have a 30-day cooling-off period after handing their divorce application to the civil affairs department to think about their decision. During the period, either party can withdraw the application.
Yang Zongtao, a senior official of the Ministry of Civil Affairs' social affairs department, said at a news briefing in Beijing that the application system should only be used by couples who had reached an amiable agreement to divorce. Couples involved in domestic violence situations are better served pursuing a divorce through the court system, Yang said.
Wang Jinhua, director of the social affairs department, said the cooling-off period is designed to prevent couples making impulsive decisions.
"The period offers them an opportunity to give a second thought on their marriage, to think whether they have really fallen out, and whether they have properly arranged their affairs concerning children and other family members," he said.
- Shenzhou XVIII successfully launched
- The Shenzhou XVIII spaceship successfully launched
- Xi calls on Chongqing to write its chapter in Chinese modernization
- Shandong produce seller begs for order cancellations after pricing error
- Zhejiang woman receives lenient sentence for rooftop poppy plantation
- Lucky mistake: Lottery player wins jackpot thanks to salesperson's error