The recession is over, dear... so now we can afford to get our divorce

SCOTLAND’S divorce rate is likely to soar as the economic recovery sees splitting up become increasingly affordable for unhappy couples.

Since the credit crunch began in 2007, the number of couples getting divorced has fallen from more than 13,000 to only 9,684 last year, official figures show.

Experts believe the fall is due to the recession and falling house prices in many parts of the country.

But lawyers are braced for a surge in separations as couples who soldiered on during the recession have decided they can split up.

According to the figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), two- thirds of couples – 6,283 – who divorced were married for more than ten years. Nearly a third were married for more than 20 years, with 3,379 long-term marriages ending over the same period.

Lawyers believe the number of marriages splits will rise further as soaring house prices and better job prospects mean couples can afford to split their assets.

Judith Scott, director of forensic accounting with accountant BDO, said: ‘Divorce is never easy and often individuals will not think about the detailed financial implications of separation until it is too late.

‘While it may appear from the outset that they can afford a divorce when their assets are analysed they may not be in as financially strong a position as they thought.

‘Given that the latest Scottish statistics reveal that two-thirds of Scots getting divorced had been married for ten years or more and, perhaps more surprisingly, one-third (3,379) had been married for more than 20 years it is clear that substantial assets may have been built up.

‘These assets may not just be in property but could also be in business interests, pensions, investments and inheritance.

‘The value of these estates is likely to be considerably larger, and more complex, due to the length of the marriage. There may be a lot to sort through in order to determine how much is due to each partner.’

The divorce rate has been falling steadily over the past decade and is almost a fifth lower than ten years ago. Historically, divorce rates have risen as the economy improves.

The expected rise in divorce comes as the number of Scots getting married has fallen to a 40-year low. It is down by 11 per cent in a year and follows years of liberal legislation which has eroded the institution.

Church leaders believe the recession and falling standard of living have seen many couples postpone weddings on cost grounds.

Research shows that nearly seven out of ten Scots believe marriage is a redundant institution, with 69 per cent approving of couples cohabiting without intending to get married.

Dwindling public support for married parents and the rising tolerance of ‘alternative’ lifestyles comes amid a decline in organised religion. Couples are increasingly rejecting church marriages and nearly 3,000 humanist weddings were conducted last year.

A spokesman for the ONS said: ‘Recent trends could be consistent with the theory that recession is associated with an increased risk of divorce, but with a delayed impact.

‘A similar trend can be seen during the previous recession in 1990-92, where divorce rates increased more markedly in 1993 than during the recession itself.’

‘Assets may have been built up’