Cooling Off: Beijing plans month-long waiting period for divorcing couples

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The highest Court in China is set to introduce a nationwide "cooling-off" period for couples looking to divorce. The theory goes that estranged couples could have an opportunity to reconsider. XING RUINAN has more.

Han and his wife met in 2012. Four years later, they got married.

Everything seemingly went well until one day his wife told him she wanted a divorce.

MR. HAN "I accepted it. But afterwards, we both thought we should still give it a try and cool down for a while. So we chilled for nearly two months before our separation."

When Han heard divorcing couples will face a month-long cooling off period, he was not surprised.

MR. HAN "To begin with, it is not denying your request to get a divorce. Besides, it's only one month. You could need as long as two, or three, or four, or five months, or even half a year."

Figures from China's Ministry of Civil Affairs show the number of divorced couples has been on the rise for 15 years.

It has increased from just over one million in 2002 to more than four million in 2016.

A divorce lawyer says China's younger generation could easily resort to divorce when their expectations of the marriage have not been met.

ZHANG JING, DIVORCE ATTORNEY BEIJING ANJIA LAW FIRM "Sometimes people rush to file for divorce out of temporary anger or disillusionment with the marriage. Responsibilities come with a marriage, like how do you make a psychological adjustment to a relationship, how do you adapt to your role in the home. They haven't learned these things at school."

Chinese courts began to impose a 30-day "cooling-off" period in response.

The couples are required to "reflect" on their marriage and explore the possibility of reconciliation.

A clinician says it may help if the couples seek psychological help or marriage counseling during the waiting period.

WANG JUN, MARRIAGE COUNSELOR BEIJING WEIAI MARRIAGE SERVICES "On the one hand, we can evaluate the current condition of their marriage. On the other hand, the husband and the wife can be honest about their discord and try to resolve existing differences."

China is not the only country that aims to bolster family life with legal measures.

In the United States, most divorce waiting periods run six to twelve months.

"Maybe this is what it takes for us to change the way we are with each other."

While divorce may have been the necessary and healthiest choice for Han, others may wish to salvage whatever is left.

MR. HAN "Many couples, like us, may spontaneously take some time to really think about our decision. I'm not saying the new law would work for everyone, but it actually makes sense."

Hopefully, the cooling off period will help to save some worthwhile marriages.

XING RUINAN, CGTN.