Part IIDivorce and Separation
Court orders
3Circumstances in which orders are made
1
If an application for a divorce order or for a separation order is made to the court under this section by one or both of the parties to a marriage, the court shall make the order applied for if (but only if)—
a
the marriage has broken down irretrievably;
b
the requirements of section 8 about information meetings are satisfied;
c
the requirements of section 9 about the parties' arrangements for the future are satisfied; and
d
the application has not been withdrawn.
2
A divorce order may not be made if an order preventing divorce is in force under section 10.
3
If the court is considering an application for a divorce order and an application for a separation order in respect of the same marriage it shall proceed as if it were considering only the application for a divorce order unless—
a
an order preventing divorce is in force with respect to the marriage;
b
the court makes an order preventing divorce; or
c
section 7(6) or (13) applies.