According to the latest report, 72.7% of Poles aged 18-35 speak positively of the Ministry of Justice’s current project, enabling divorce through a notary without court participation. 11.3% of respondents oppose it while 16% have not yet formed an opinion. Supporters of this solution are primarily people earning over 9,000 PLN per month, living in the largest Polish cities, whereas opponents frequently earn between 7000-8999 PLN per month and are typically residents of villages and localities up to 5000 inhabitants.
Recent media reports have highlighted the Ministry of Justice’s endeavour to change the law enabling divorces to be conducted through a notary without court participation. This solution could be particularly beneficial in cases without a judgment of guilt and where there are no disputes. The majority of young Poles questioned support this move; 72.7% of respondents aged 18-35 consider this a good idea while 11.3% are of the contrary opinion. 16% of respondents have not yet formed an opinion on this matter. This data comes from a nationwide survey, based on a sample size of over 800 Poles aged 18-35, titled “Divorce skirmishes of young Poles”.
According to Kamil Jura, co-author of the report and lawyer from the Divorce Office Nowy-Etap.pl, “From my experience, the proposal for notary divorces can be very beneficial, especially in cases without a judgment of guilt and without disputes. Younger individuals, aged 18-35, often strive for a quick and hassle-free resolution in these types of matters. Therefore, close to 73% of them support the aforementioned idea”.
In the expert’s assessment, notary divorces will streamline procedures, however, ex-partners should first establish the conditions and details with a mediator. This proposed solution could significantly facilitate divorce proceedings. Divorce mediation, during which separation conditions are settled under “humane” circumstances, then a visit to the notary to formally finalize the divorce process, will likely reduce costs and minimize stress associated with the divorce procedure.
Young Poles, who most often get married, represent this proportion of respondents. If a divorce were to take place, this is, of course, a good signal. Kamil Jura predicts that the percentage of undecided individuals will likely decrease once more details about the changes and their implementation timeline become available. Once people understand how a notary divorce functions in practice, many may view this solution more favorably. They will likely be more willing to support these changes as an expedited divorce procedure is attractive in terms of potential time and cost savings.
The expert believes that individuals aged 18-35 would likely take advantage of the aforementioned solution more frequently than other age groups. They usually value speed, simplicity, and efficiency in handling formal matters. Notary divorce procedures meet these expectations, offering a faster and simpler process than traditional routes.
Moreover, people aged 18-35 may have less complicated financial situations and family circumstances, which makes divorce at a notary’s office more attractive. Older couples often have more complicated obligations such as joint children, loans, or properties. This may sway them towards choosing traditional divorce procedures, which provide more detailed solutions for such matters, the report’s co-author points out.
The report also reveals that women more frequently than men consider this solution a good idea (74% vs. 71.1%). Primarily people from cities exceeding 500,000 residents (79.3%), and Poles with monthly net incomes above 9000 PLN (82.7%) hold this opinion.
“Women probably more often support notary divorces because they are generally more involved in divorce proceedings and strive for a quick and stress-free conclusion. Individuals with higher incomes and from larger cities may prefer this solution as they value efficiency, simplicity, and the time that can be saved with this procedure. They are also likely to understand the costs associated with divorces and appreciate the opportunity to reduce them through expedited notarial processes”, explains Kamil Jura.
Men, more often than women, do not believe that the aforementioned solution is sound (13.2% vs. 9.6%). This sentiment is mainly held by people from villages and localities with up to 5000 inhabitants (16.5%), and it is usually the case for those with a monthly net income of 7000 – 8999 PLN (15.9%) on average.
“Men may have greater concerns about financial and legal matters. They may seem less predictable without court participation, which isn’t true. Those with lower incomes probably fear complications arising from less formal procedures. Meanwhile, residents of villages and small towns may have less access to notaries and mediators, making them more sceptical towards new legal solutions. Here, expanding online mediation would be advantageous as it could significantly facilitate access to these services for people from small localities. It would enable them to use mediation without having to travel long distances”, concludes Kamil Jura.
Research Methodology Description
The report titled “Divorce skirmishes of young Poles” is based on a public opinion survey which was carried out by the analytical research platform UCE RESEARCH and the Divorce Office Nowy-Etap.pl, using a CAWI (Computer Assisted Web Interview) method, with a sample of 808 Poles aged 18-35.
Source: https://managerplus.pl/mlodzi-polacy-chca-ekspresowych-rozwodow-u-notariuszy-blisko-73-proc-popiera-takie-rozwiazanie-96399
