There are a lot of things that people don’t like about divorce here in the United States. But of those things, there are two that stand out above all else: the contentious disagreements and the lengthy process.
But even though the process can take months — even years in some cases — Americans may not have it as bad as they may think. Consider for a moment the civil court system in China, which was highlighted recently in a CNN piece this month. According to the report, there are only a limited number of divorces that are granted each day in the city district of Xi’an City — 15 to be exact. If couples fail to get a slot, they are told to come back the next day and try again.
Although this practice might raise eyebrows both here in the U.S. as well as in China, it does not come without its merits. According to the government agency currently enforcing this practice, by limiting the number of divorces allowed each day, the agency is trying to “[save] families from impulsive divorce.” The agency points out that in some cases, even couples who have secured a slot decide not to go through with the divorce after all.
As we have pointed out before in other blog posts, divorce is a life-changing event that should not be rushed into quickly. Careful consideration must be taken about everything from how assets will be divided to more complex issues such as who will have primary custody of the children. And without proper legal counsel, lengthy litigation may be the least of your divorce woes.
Source: CNN, “Want a divorce? Come back tomorrow (or not), say Chinese officials,” Steven Jiang, Aug. 19, 2014