China Revising Marriage, Divorce Laws Amid Population Decline

China Revising Marriage, Divorce Laws Amid Population Decline
People walk on a street in Lujiazui district in Shanghai, China, on June 29, 2023. Pedro Pardo/AFP via Getty Images
Catherine Yang
Updated:
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China proposed this week changes to marriage and divorce laws that would simplify marriage registration and make it harder to file for divorce, according to a draft law published by the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

The revised laws would remove restrictions that required marriages to be handled at the couple’s household registration location and add a 30-day waiting period for divorces, during which either party can terminate the process.