In English law, a co-respondent is, in general, a respondent to a petition, or other legal proceeding, along with another or others, or a person called upon to answer in some other way.[1]

Divorce

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More particularly, since the Matrimonial Causes Act 1857, in a petition for divorce on the ground of adultery, a co-respondent is a person charged with misconduct with the petitioner's spouse.[2]

As of 2007, alleged parties to a spouse's adultery must be made co-respondents unless they are not named in the petition or the court directs otherwise.[3][4]

In practice, naming such parties in a divorce petition is discouraged as it may become a barrier to reconciliation. Such parties are only commonly named if the petitioner is seeking costs against them or has some other particular reason.[1][5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Bond et al. (2007) 7.4.19
  2. ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Co-respondent" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 7 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 144.
  3. ^ Family Procedure Rules SI1991/1247, r.2.7(1)
  4. ^ "Divorce Information". Thursday, 22 April 2021
  5. ^ The Law Society (2006).

Bibliography

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