‘Divorce day’ looms as couples mull split

Lawyers have dubbed 8 January “Divorce Day” because of the spike in couples considering ending their marriage after the festive period.

Relationship experts blame the stress of trying to stage a perfect “chocolate box” Christmas when two people are no longer happy together.

Relate, one of the UK’S biggest relationship charities, sees a peak in calls in January as issues within a marriage or a long-term relationship come to a head over Christmas.

In January 2017, Relate received a 24 per cent increase in calls to their helpline compared with the average month, and councillors expect to see a similar peak this year.

Family lawyer Charlotte Leyshon, founder of Cardiff-based firm Lux, said sheandhercolleaguesusually see a surge in divorce inquiries when they return to work in January.

She once received a call on Christmas Day after a wife discovered a receipt for a diamond Rolex that was never placed under the family tree, and was instead intended for her husband’s mistress.

Recent data from the Office for National Statistics revealed there was a 5.8 per cent increase in divorces between heterosexual couples in 2016 compared with the previous year.