England and Wales can now boast the lowest divorce rates since 1979. In 2008 just 11.2 divorces were carried out for every 1,000 married people. But a sharp rise could be on the horizon as lawyers predict that an ease in the recession could free thousands of couples from the financial bondage of marriage.
The divorce rate decreased by 2.5% in 2008 to just 11.5 per 1,000 married people, compared with 11.8 in 2007. Figures decreased from 128,232 to 121,779 divorcing couples. Divorce rates in Scotland and Northern Ireland fell even further, at 10% and 4.8% respectively.
But what are the reasons for this new low? Though the Office for National Statistics who published the divorce rates could not come up with an answer, a number of theories have been presented as to the causes. Possibly people who now marry are more committed to each other, as people are waiting longer and are significantly older when they now marry their partner. Or couples who wish to divorce do not have the finances to do so during the current recession.
Some lawyers, including family lawyer Martin Loxley, believe that the reduction is thanks to rising alternatives to divorce. Many people are now pursuing a judicial separation which keeps court involvement to a minimum and can be undertaken at the fraction of the cost of a divorce. Divorce rates do not give an accurate reflection of society as it does not include the separations of cohabiting couples.
Divorce lawyer Ayesha Vardag was more sceptical, stating “our experience is that fewer couples are divorcing because fewer are marrying”. Cohabitation is a result of the increased social acceptability of couples living together and having children outside marriage, and partly resulting from anxiety over the financial consequences of marriage.
It is yet to be seen whether divorce rates will rise in the next few years, but Pannone law firm has already announced a 6% rise in divorces during the past 3 months.
You can find a solicitor who specialises in the area you need, for example, a Family law solicitor wales or welsh divorce solicitor will be able to advise and represent you in Family law.