Divorce time limits in Russia could double: What the Federation Council proposes
In Russia, the time limit for divorce may be increased: from one to three months for couples without children, and from three to six months for couples with children. Senator Natalia Kosikhina proposed this initiative. She stated that many divorce decisions are made "at the height of emotion," and spouses need more time to consider them.
What does the senator propose?
Currently, a divorce without children or property disputes can be finalized in just one month. In other cases, the procedure takes about three months. Kosikhina wants to double this timeframe.
"We understand that life is complicated, and many decisions about separation are made rashly, in the heat of the moment, at the height of emotion. Time passes, feelings cool, and people begin to sincerely regret their actions, but legally, the family is already broken. To avoid such fatal mistakes made in the heat of the moment, it's necessary to give spouses more time to think things over," said senator.
In her opinion, increasing the time limit will help reduce the number of emotional divorces and give spouses the opportunity to reconsider their decision.
Who else supports the idea?
Previously, about extending the divorce period was expressed Federation Council Chairwoman Valentina Matviyenko stated that "the divorce procedure should not be too simple."
Currently, the state fee for divorce is 5000 rubles for each spouse.
"Days without divorce" and other regional practices
The practice of measures aimed at reducing the number of divorces already exists in a number of Russian regions. "Divorce-free days" have been held in various years in Ulyanovsk, Amur и Tula regions and on KamchatkaIn Krasnoyarsk Krai in 2026 Launched the "Say No to Divorce!" campaign, within the framework of which similar days are held monthly.
Such events are typically timed to coincide with Family, Love, and Fidelity Day, celebrated on July 8. Civil registry offices either refuse to register divorces or suggest that spouses postpone the decision and seek counseling from psychologists.
