The Divorce (Religious Marriages) Act 2002 (c. 27) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The act amends the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 to allow one party to petition a court to not declare their divorce decree absolute until they have received a similar document from a religion's authority.
The need for the legislation was demonstrated in the 2000 divorce case of O v O.
Jewish law requires a civil divorce and a Get (religious divorce) for a person to remarry.
The act allows a civil judge to require that a civil divorce be delayed until a religious divorce has been carried out.
The act was brought before Parliament by Andrew Dismore MP as a private members' bill under the Ten Minute Rule.
Muslim WomenâÂÂs Network UK has suggested amending the act to include Muslim divorces.