The act contains four parts: Section 1 sets out the grounds that must be demonstrated before a divorce can be granted.

Following the decision of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom in Owens v Owens, Parliament passed the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020, which has removed these conditions.

[1][2] Section 13 provides for certain restrictions in regard to the possibility of annulling voidable marriages, including where the petitioner knew of the "defect" and of the possibility of annulment, but induced the respondent to believe that s/he would not seek an annulment; or where it would be "unjust" to the respondent to grant the decree of nullity.

There is usually a time limit of three years from the date of the marriage in order to institute the proceedings.

Under section 24(1), when granting a divorce, decree of nullity of marriage or judicial separation the court can order (subject to restrictions in ss 29(1) and (3) relating to children of the age of majority other than those still in school or in other special circumstances): Under s. 24(2), the court can make an order under s. 24(1)(c) even if there are no children, and under s. 24(3) orders and settlements take effect only when the divorce or nullity of marriage is made absolute.