60-minute divorce for Colombia's unhappy couples

Kim Housego, Associated Press in Bogotá
Wednesday September 28, 2005
The Guardian


Married couples in Colombia will soon be able to untie the knot in as little as one hour and for just $15 (£8.50), bypassing costly lawyers, legal hurdles and the long delays most unhappy couples can expect before a divorce.


Legislation passed by congress in July is expected to be signed into law by the Colombian president, Alvaro Uribe, within weeks, his office said on Monday. "The aim is to make life easier for Colombians," Manuel Cuello, superintendent of the national registrar, told Associated Press. "Getting divorced should not be such a bureaucratic ordeal."


The move is a response to the mounting backlog of divorce cases, said Mr Cuello. More than 1 million couples are waiting for their cases to be settled. Under the new law, couples without young children will no longer have to appear before a judge, but can go to the local registrar office with a jointly signed declaration that will be stamped by an official within one hour. Both parties must agree to the divorce. A separate declaration will spell out division of assets.
For couples with children, custody plans must be explained to a family affairs official, who will authorise the divorce or send the case to court.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/colombia/story/0,11502,1579905,00.html