The number of couples that obtained a divorce in the UK grew by 4.9% in 2010 according to the Office for National Statistics, the last recorded rise in the UK’s divorce rate having come in 2003.
Unsurprisingly, several attempts to explain this trend have been put forward, a spokesperson from the ONS themselves proclaiming that the recession is the most likely reason for more couples choosing to file for divorce. Others have expanded upon this theory, noting that prior recessions have also resulted in larger numbers of couples seeking divorce. Previous arguments that the recession had been behind the UK’s falling divorce rate having seemingly been dispelled by commentators who have observed that the divorce rate did not grow immediately following the UK’s last two recessions and that the effects that each recession had on the UK’s divorce rate was not immediately apparent.
Quickie Divorce would agree that this is a logical conclusion. Many couples who had already decided to end their marriages may well have delayed proceedings in the hope of the housing market recovering or merely just to ensure that both parties were solvent enough to weather the divorce process and maintain their lifestyle on only one income.
Unfortunately, as it has slowly become apparent that economic recovery is unlikely in the near future, these couples have decided to proceed with their divorce, possibly after having either choosing to file unassisted and act as litigants in person or having instructed an online divorce provider.
Whether or not there is any direct connection between recession and the UK’s divorce rates will become more apparent following the ONS having released the divorce statistics for 2011 later next year.
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