Wrong couple divorced after computer error by law firm Vardag's
www.bbc.co.uk
A judge says the order cannot be overturned but the law firm says this verdict is a "bad decision".

A couple were divorced by mistake after a computer error at a family law firm.

A staff member at Vardag’s accidentally opened the file of a couple referred to in court papers as Mr and Mrs Williams, when trying to apply for a final divorce order for a different client.

Vardag’s applied three days later to rescind the order but judge Sir Andrew McFarlane dismissed the application.

The firm’s head Ayesha Vardag said the judge’s decision effectively meant “the computer says no, you’re divorced”.

  • themeatbridge
    14•7 months ago

    Don’t divorce filings need to be, like, signed by the parties involved?

    • @essell@lemmy.world
      8•7 months ago

      Or perhaps by someone who has your power of attorney? Like an attorney?

      I dunno. I’m not in that country so all I know comes from TV

      • ᴇᴍᴘᴇʀᴏʀ 帝OPMEnglish
        11•7 months ago

        Yep, it’s in the article:

        Judge McFarlane rejected the wife’s arguments that the order should be set aside, finding it was not “rendered voidable” by her lack of consent as her solicitors were “generally authorised to act for her and the court was entitled to accept the application for the final order made by them as being validly made on her behalf”.