23 March 2012
On a two years’ with consent divorce petition, what should happen procedurally if there is doubt...
On a two years’ with consent divorce petition, what should happen procedurally if there is doubt about the respondent’s capacity to consent to a decree? Can a litigation friend consent on the respondent’s behalf?
Consent must be given personally (see FPR rr 6.16(2) and 7.12 (4), (6)). If there are grounds to believe that a respondent lacks capacity to consent to a decree, an assessment of that capacity will be required. It does not necessarily follow that a person who lacks capacity to conduct proceedings also lacks capacity to consent to a decree.
