Quickie Divorce

Divorce, a symbol of family breakdown, has never shown any sign of recession in the UK.A comparison of the rates of divorce that have prevailed in different years may prove that there is a decreasing trend but, when one compares the rates of divorce in conjunction with the rates of marriages, the results would be alarming.

As per the facts provided by the Office for National Statistics in the UK, the divorce rate fell by 7 per cent in 2005. In 2004 the total number of divorces was 167,138 and in 2005, it was 155, 052.It is the lowest for the past five years. In the year 1993 it peaked to 180,018. When the number of marriages in the 1970 stood at 3, 90,000, the divorce numbered to around 56,000.  However, the number of marriages in 2000 was 1, 80,000 only with the disproportionate divorce numbering to 1, 60,000.  Obviously the rate of divorce is on the increasing mode. 

The major grounds which are acceptable by the law in the UK a readultery, unreasonable behaviour, desertion, two years' separation with consent and five years' separation without consent. The Divorce Reforms Act, 1969 providing for irretrievable breakdown of marriage as grounds for divorcehad the effect of increasing the number of divorces.  The increase is being accelerated further by the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984 by which the minimum period after marriage before a petition of divorce can be filed was reduced from 3 years to 1 year.

Many developed countries also experience a considerably higher rate of divorce as compared to earlier years.  Divorce has become most common in the United States,South Korea,and members of the European Union, with the exception of Malta (where all civilmarriages are for life, because civil divorce is banned).  The divorce rates in the USA, Canada, andsome other developed Commonwealth countries found a new boom inthe last half of the twentieth century.

According to available statistics provided by theNational Centre for Health Statistics, in USA, in 1997 there were 2,384,000marriages, which is equivalent to 8.9 marriages per 1,000 people as against1,163,000 divorces, which translates to a rate of 4.3 divorces per 1,000people.

Nodoubt, divorce has been on the increase in Canada also since 1968 when theDivorce Laws came into force. Canadaexperienced a five-fold increase from 1968 to 1995. As of now, about one-thirdof all marriages end in divorce. The rate of divorce depends primarily on thedemographic factors and on people's lifestyle coupled with their value systems.

In Australia, the drastic uprising of the divorce rates pegged at40% has sounded the alarm bell that it engaged the attention of the House ofRepresentatives Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs 1998that suggested a plethora of measures to strengthen and sustain marriage andfamily relationships. Abusive behaviour, external pressures, infidelity, physical, verbal and emotional violence toself or children, mental and physical health, financial problems, incompatibility/drifting apart, andextra-marital affair are the major reasons for divorce. The personal, family and community consequences and costs of highrates of marriage breakdown and divorce may act as a deterrent against divorce.

In France,according to the French civil code, there are four reasons applicable todivorce. While 60% of the divorces happen at the instance of mutual consent,the rest of the cases happen through separation of two years, acceptance andfault of either partner.

In contrast, in Japan where family system is anorm, married couples are less individualistic and they are highly dedicated totheir family values.  Even the highestrate of divorce that was found out to be in 2001, amounted to just 2.27 per thousandpeople. The number ofdivorces is fairly less and the most general reasons cited for divorce areextramarital affair, incompatibility, financial/economic problems, sexualproblems, alcoholism, neglect of family, physical abuse and problems within-laws. The concept of marriage is also gradually changing in Japan. Thereasons attributed are lack of enthusiasm to have children, the coming up ofmore diverse families, educational and employment opportunities for women,economic independence of women, and positive media images of divorce. Stillfamily-bound Japanese lag far behind from Europeans and Americans in thisregard.

The overall scenario presents the picture that the rates ofdivorce are very high in almost all the countries, be it the UK, USA, France,Australia or for that matter any other European country irrespective of theprocess and reasons attendant thereupon. Only Japanstands out as an exception.

Article: Divorce Facts in the UK

Created on: 2007-05-15 14:16:09