Divorce in Belgium occurs at a higher rate than in most other European countries.
Divorce could be obtained on a fault ground or by mutual consent.
In 1974, a new additional ground was added allowing for unilateral divorce based on a ten-years separation period.
Until 2007, Belgium law remained a strong fault-based system, and the party who cited separation as ground to divorce against the will of the 'innocent' spouse was deemed to be at fault.
[4] The new divorce law of 2007 is largely no-fault, although some serious faults regarding the conviction of a criminal offense against the other spouse prohibit the asking of alimony by the guilty party (see Article 301).