A "cooling-off" period before divorce proceedings are finalized should not be used in domestic violence cases, a civil affairs official said on Friday.

(File photo: CFP)

Under the Civil Code, which comes into effect on Jan 1, couples will have a 30-day cooling-off period after handing their divorce application to the civil affairs department to think about their decision. During the period, either party can withdraw the application.

Yang Zongtao, a senior official of the Ministry of Civil Affairs' social affairs department, said at a news briefing in Beijing that the application system should only be used by couples who had reached an amiable agreement to divorce. Couples involved in domestic violence situations are better served pursuing a divorce through the court system, Yang said.

Wang Jinhua, director of the social affairs department, said the cooling-off period is designed to prevent couples making impulsive decisions.

"The period offers them an opportunity to give a second thought on their marriage, to think whether they have really fallen out, and whether they have properly arranged their affairs concerning children and other family members," he said.