{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/evidence-in-divorce-actions-scotland-order-1989/article-2",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/evidence-in-divorce-actions-scotland-order-1989/article-2.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/1989/582",
  "legislation_title": "The Evidence in Divorce Actions (Scotland) Order 1989",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/evidence-in-divorce-actions-scotland-order-1989",
  "path": "article/2",
  "kind": "article",
  "number": "2",
  "heading": null,
  "text": "(1) The provisions of this Order shall have effect in relation to the following class of actions, namely actions for divorce in which—\n(a) the action is undefended;\n(b) the action is brought in reliance on the facts set out in section 1(2)(d) (2 years non-cohabitation and the defender’s consent to decree) or in section 1(2)(e) (5 years non-cohabitation) of the Divorce (Scotland) Act 1976( );\n(c) no other proceedings are pending in any court which could have the effect of bringing the marriage to an end;\n(d) there are no children of the marriage under the age of 16 years;\n(e) neither party applies for an order for financial provision on divorce; and\n(f) neither party suffers from mental disorder within the meaning of section 1(2) of the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984( ).\n(2) For the purpose of this Order an action shall be treated as undefended when the defender has not entered appearance or, having entered appearance, has not lodged defences or has withdrawn them.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f1",
      "text": "1976 c. 39"
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f2",
      "text": "1984 c. 36"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [
    {
      "type": "words substituted",
      "affecting": "ssi/2005/445",
      "affecting_title": "The Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 (Modification of Subordinate Legislation) Order 2005"
    },
    {
      "type": "words substituted",
      "affecting": "ssi/2012/111",
      "affecting_title": "The Evidence in Civil Partnership and Divorce Actions (Scotland) Order 2012"
    },
    {
      "type": "words substituted",
      "affecting": "ssi/2012/111",
      "affecting_title": "The Evidence in Civil Partnership and Divorce Actions (Scotland) Order 2012"
    }
  ],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/582/article/2",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T15:46:06.007695+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}