Divorce declines in lockdown

Fewer couples have been filing for divorce since the pandemic began

DESPITE speculation at the start of the coronavirus pandemic that lockdown would see the divorce rate rocket, so far the opposite has actually been the case. Figures from the Ministry of Justice have revealed that 23,517 petitions for divorce were filed between April and June this year.

That’s down by 21% compared to 29,832 petitions between January and March, and is the lowest number filed in any three month period of the last decade.

This bucks the trend seen in both China and the US, where surges in divorce rates have been reported anecdotally since the start of the pandemic.

Hannah Gumbrill-Ward, solicitor at Winckworth Sherwood, said: “While we have seen a rise in the number of enquiries from clients who have been tested in their marriages during lockdown and are contemplating divorce, and want to understand if it is the right option for them, we have equally experienced a heightened degree of nervousness among some of them as to whether now is the right time.

“A common theme in the increased caution about ‘pushing the button’ on divorce has been due to the financial uncertainty that the pandemic continues to create. For many, with continued job uncertainty and the impact of the economy on investment portfolios, divorcing is seen to be too great a risk to take in the present climate. For others, they see the buoyancy of the housing market and Stamp Duty holiday as a window of opportunity to resolve matters and cut financial ties with their spouse by Spring 2021.

“How people’s attitudes might change now we are on the verge of lockdown 2.0 is yet to be seen. It may be that the prospect of spending another six months with a spouse who they have long been emotionally separated from will be too much, no matter the financial uncertainty.”

There has also been a drop in the overall number of new cases started in the Family Courts, which solicitors say is unsurprising due to the restrictions the pandemic has placed on the court’s ability to operate at full capacity.

In total, 56,867 cases were started between April and June.

As well as divorces, these include cases relating to the Children Act - for example parental disputes over the upbringing of children - financial support for children after divorce or relationship breakdown, adoption, some aspects of domestic violence, forced marriage, and FGM.

The number is down by 15% from 66,787 cases between January and March, and is again at a decade-low.