Former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy and his wife Sarah have divorced this week, on the 9 December.
A decree nisi was granted at the High Court Family Division in London allowing the couple to file for a 'quickie' divorce.
Sarah Kennedy, 40, cited her partner's "unreasonable behaviour" as to why she was forced to petition for divorce.
The court accepted this ground for divorce as an irretrievable breakdown of the couple's marriage. In England and Wales this is the only acceptable reason for a divorce to be lawfully adjudged.
Charles Kennedy has a well-documented history of alcohol problems.
The MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber resigned as Lib Dem leader in 2006 after losing the support of MPs following his admission he had a drink problem.
Charles and Sarah Kennedy married in July 2002 in Westminster. They split in August 2010 and started the process of getting a divorce.
The couple are also coming to terms with the additional testing situation of breaking up with a child. They have a five-year-old son called Donald.
The couple chose to use lawyers for the divorce because they had been married for more than five years, have a child and have more assets than just the family home and car.
Their lawyers issued a joint statement expressing their "great sadness" at the divorce.
Related Resources:
- Learn about the divorce procedure (FindLaw.co.uk)
- More about divorce: DIY or get a solicitor? (FindLaw.co.uk)
- Deciding whether or not to divorce (FindLaw.co.uk)
- Find a UK solicitor in your area
