The year of 2022 was not short of interesting and sometimes shocking divorce stories from around the world.  To wrap up the year, we have put together a list of some of the more interesting stories that have been circulating the web over the last year:

1. Celebrity Breakup: One of the top celebrity breakups was surprise divorce between uber famous Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and supermodel Gisele Bundchen. It was reported that Gisele gave Tom an ultimatum to choose their family or his NFL career after his short retirement. Both Tom and Gisele released joint statements after filing for divorce on October 29, 2022 and they are expected to amicably raise their children despite the divorce.
2. Pet Custody In China: A couple in China decided to divorce and whilst they had no children, they did have a pet Corgi.  The Corgi was at the center of their divorce, with both pet parents wanting full custody of the dog. The wife argued that she deserved ownership of the dog because she purchased the dog but also raised the Corgi.  The husband acknowledged that he did not feed the dog or clean up after it as much as his wife, but that he walked the dog regularly and considered the Corgi as his child.  The Court in China accepted that the dog was a joint asset of the marriage but it could not be divided as a normal asset would.  Eventually the couple reached an agreement and the Corgi lived with the wife.  The husband had regular visitation and he agreed to pay monthly alimony for the dog’s monthly expenses.
3. Highest Divorce Rate: Maldives, Kazakhstan and Russia have been listed as the top places in the world with the highest divorce rate.  Also on the list for 2022 was Belgium, Belarus Moldova, China, Cuba, Ukraine and Denmark.  
4. Top Reasons for Divorce: In another report, lack of commitment, communication issues and infidelity topped the list on the main reasons for divorce.
5. No Fault Divorce in England and Wales: On 6^th April 2022, England and Wales adopted a “No-Fault Divorce Law” pursuant to the Divorce Dissolution and Separation Act, which allows couples to legally separate without either party having to admit any wrongdoing.  This is a change from the previous law in the United Kingdom where parties filed for Divorce citing fault either by way of adultery or unreasonable behaviour or desertion. Whilst couples in the United Kingdom can opt for divorce based on 2 years’ separation, this basis for divorce requires consent from the other party and if no consent is received, parties must be separated for an additional 5 years before a Petition for Divorce can be filed.

That wraps up the year of 2022!  We at Hong Kong Divorce are here to provide you with as much useful information as possible to make your divorce journey as smooth as possible.  If you are thinking about divorce or wish to file, be sure to speak with a solicitor who can assist you along the way.  We at Hong Kong Divorce wish you a very Happy Holidays and an even better New Year of 2023!