Divorce lawyers have stated there have been a large increase in the amount of divorces, mainly because of the ongoing cost of living crisis.
The managing associate for Cripps law firm, Nick Gova, said “the current cost of living crisis has definitely accelerated divorce for many” and has “focused many couple’s minds on considering their financial position”. He continued:
“We have received an influx of new inquiries where individuals are wanting to know where they stand if proceedings were commenced immediately and how quickly a financial resolution could be achieved.”
HMCTS figures support Gova’s claims, as they revealed that the number of couples filing for divorce this year has doubled. In April 2021, there were 6,674 filings, compared to this year’s April 12,978 filings.
Amanda Phillips-Wylds, the managing partner for Stowe Family Law, echoed these thoughts professing she had received a record number of divorce enquiries. She states this is especially unusual for this time of year. She stated:
“An unprecedented number of inquiries have cited financial woes as the driving force behind the divorce, highlighting the wide-reaching impacts the cost of living crisis is having.
We have gathered insight revealing that over half of British marriages are on shaky ground because they don’t have enough money coming in.”
She also claimed that the number could increase as couple’s financial situation improve and warned divorce courts should prepare for this eventuality. She expects “the floodgates” will open further once spouses can afford to divorce.
Graham Coy, a partner for Wilsons, attempts to explain this phenomenon by explaining that financial hardships tend to lead to an increase in divorces. He claimed:
“Financial worries can prove to be the last straw.
There is every reason to think what we saw in the late 2000s will happen again with unquantifiable damage to families.”
In addition to this, Coy stated the new law passed in April on “no-fault divorces” has also contributed to these record numbers.
