LONDON — The UK Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that a woman must remain married to her husband of 40 years after he opposed her request for a divorce, saying its hands were tied by the country’s divorce laws.

The justices upheld a lower court ruling that Tini Owens, 68, failed to prove ‘‘unreasonable behavior’’ by her husband, 80-year-old Hugh Owens, who she claimed was moody, argumentative, and disparaging. English law requires a spouse to prove unreasonable behavior, adultery, desertion, or a separation of five years unless both parties agree to divorce.

In issuing their ruling, the justices made their unease plain, noting that society’s expectations for reasonable behavior have changed since divorce laws were last updated in 1969 and marriage is now seen as a partnership of equals. The court then opened the door for lawmakers to rewrite the rules.

‘‘I have found this a very troubling case,’’ Judge Brenda Hale wrote. ‘‘It is not for us to change the law laid down by Parliament — our role is only to interpret and apply the law that Parliament has given us.’’

associated press