A total of 2,484 separations were requested in 2018

There were 2,484 couples who sought a separation in court last year, Justice Minister Owen Bonnici told Parliament on Wednesday.

Of these, 99 were presented to the courts in Gozo.

Bonnici was responding to a parliamentary question by PN MP Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici.

The minister said 1,242 separation requests were presented via a mediation procedure. This is when, with the help of a mediator, both parties come to an agreement and draft a contract defining the terms of the separation.

Another 941 of the requests were initiated via a formal letter, where one of the parties willing to go ahead with separation informs the court registrar.

A joint application for separation was filed by 301 couples.