Chinese couples rush to file for divorce as new law that requires 30-day ‘cooling off’ period kicks in

Under the law, couples who mutually agree to dissolve their marriage must complete the month-long cooling-off period to reconsider their positions

The law disadvantages women, particularly those without an independent source of income, one lawyer says

4-MIN READ4-MIN

Divorce lawyers in China have been inundated with requests from couples to file for divorce once their 30 days are up since the new law in the country was approved. Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto

Published: 4:15am, 15 Feb 2021Updated: 4:15am, 15 Feb 2021

A new law in China that makes it harder for couples to divorce has sent husbands and wives rushing to file applications to dissolve their marriages.

Under the law, which was implemented on January 1 after being passed by the National People’s Congress last year, couples who mutually agree to dissolve their marriage must complete a month-long “cooling-off” period to reconsider their positions. After the 30 days have passed, couples can go to their local civil affairs bureau to apply a second time for their official divorce documents.

Divorce lawyers have been inundated with requests from couples to file for divorce once their 30 days are up.

In some cities such as Guangzhou, in Guangdong province, the demand for consultations with divorce lawyers is so high that scalpers are charging premium prices online to help couples secure appointments.

Zhong Wen, a lawyer based in Sichuan province who specialises in divorce, says he has already received numerous phone calls from anxious clients concerned that the new law complicates their divorce and compromises their freedom to split.