185. Saving for petitions presented before 1 June 1981

The Women’s Charter (Amendment) Act 1980 (including the repeals and amendments made by it) does not have effect in relation to any petition for divorce or judicial separation, for a decree of nullity or for a decree of presumption of death and dissolution of the marriage presented before 1 June 1981.

Without prejudice to any provision of this Act, neither collusion nor any other conduct on the part of the petitioner which has at any time been a bar to relief in matrimonial proceedings constitutes a bar to the grant of a decree nisi of divorce, a decree of judicial separation, a decree of nullity or a decree of presumption of death and dissolution of the marriage, whether the marriage took place, or the proceedings were instituted, before or after 1 June 1981, and the court is not required to dismiss an application for a decree nisi of divorce to be made absolute on the ground of collusion between the parties in connection with the presentation or prosecution of the petition for divorce or the obtaining of the decree nisi or on the ground of any conduct on the part of the petitioner.