France is considering a plan to allow divorces by mutual consent to proceed without a judge, simplifying a process that some critics say is already too easy, reports The Kansas City Star.
Social Affairs Minister Dominique Bertinotti confirmed the plan was under consideration on Friday, telling BFM-TV that "simplification is a good thing."
Under the report requested by France's justice minister and expected to be laid out in mid-January, a court clerk could approve divorces when both spouses agree.
According to the Le Figaro newspaper, divorcing couples in agreement spend an average of only eight minutes before a judge now. The paper said 54 percent of French divorces are uncontested.
Bertinotti said court clerks are highly trained in the law and could handle those cases, freeing up judges for trickier breakups.
Read more of this Associated Pres report published by The Kansas City Star.