User:EmilyBeeYT/Divorce law by country

China
In China, divorce law is the fourth chapter of Marriage Law which has been firstly passed since 1950. The law empowers women since divorce cannot be sought by women before the enactment. Furthermore, the law ensures the freedom of marriage (to marry and to divorce) and prevents others' interference.

Generally speaking, there are two methods to ask for a divorce:


 * 1) If a couple is willing to divorce, they can go to the government office of civil affairs for divorce registration. The agency will issue a divorce certificate when it ensures that both spouses are indeed voluntary and have properly dealt with the children and property issues.
 * 2) If only one of the two spouses requests the divorce, the spouse can accept mediation from the relevant department or sue for a divorce. In most cases, the court would offer mediation before the trial; if the relationship has indeed broken and the mediation is invalid, the court would grant the request. In any of following circumstances, then divorce should also be granted: (1) bigamy (2) domestic violence or abuse, or abandonment of family members (3) long-term gambling, drug, etc (4) separation for more than two years (5) other factors that might break the relationship.

The arrangement of children and property is based on the consent of two parties. However, the relationship between children and parents is not broken down by the divorce, which means both parents have the right and obligation to raise and educate the children.

One special characteristic of divorce in China is the process of mediation. This justice process is influenced by both Western modernism and Chinese tradition. Mediated reconciliation is an important process in Chinese justice systems. Before 1990, courts dealt with 80% of civil cases through mediation instead of adjudication. However, in recent research, it turns out the courts have shifted from mediation to adjudication as handling divorce cases after reforms of the Chinese judiciary in the 1990s, and more effective and systematical approach has been restricted by Marriage Law. Additionally, divorce reform strictly defined domestic violence and expanded forms of matrimonial assets. These substantially protect the property rights of women after divorce and empower women in the family, which is also shown by a less skewed child sex ratio.