Divorces drop despite lockdown split predictions
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The number of divorces in the UK fell by eight percent to 108,900 in the year ended 30 September 2020.
The figure was 118,100 a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Justice.
This is contrary to the expectation that lockdown would cause divorce rates to rise, private wealth law firm Boodle Hatfield noted.
Emily Brand, partner in Boodle Hatfield’s family team, noticed: “We often find that, in periods of extreme economic uncertainty, many individuals actually put any nascent plans to initiate a divorce on hold.
“If your finances have taken a hit during the pandemic you may want to avoid the added financial stress of a divorce. When normality is restored, we anticipate that the divorce rate will start to climb again.”
“For other couples, the time spent together during lockdown may have given them the chance to work through their issues and focus on mending their relationship.”
This article first appeared in EPrivateClient on 24 March 2021.
