A new study challenges the idea that the first Monday in January is the busiest for divorce lawyers, showing a decline in divorce rates.
London: Tomorrow is what many call “divorce day,” when couples rush to lawyers to end their marriages. But guess what? A new study says this whole idea might be a myth.
The Marriage Foundation found no solid proof that the first Monday in January is the busiest day for family lawyers. In fact, they’re seeing fewer divorces in England and Wales.
Harry Benson, the research director, pointed out that every year, some law firm claims this day is a big deal for divorce inquiries. But it seems like that’s just based on stories, not real data.
Official stats show that in 2022, there were 80,057 divorces in England and Wales, which is a 29.5% drop from the year before. That’s the lowest number since 1971!
On average, marriages that ended in divorce lasted about 12.9 years for straight couples, and 7.5 and 6.3 years for same-sex couples. So, it’s not like people are rushing to get divorced.
Benson mentioned that while there might be a slight uptick in inquiries after the holiday break, he’s confident that the divorce rate in the UK is on a steady decline.
Another study from last year showed that the lifetime risk of divorce has dropped to 35%, down from 44% in 1986. That’s a significant change!
Wife-granted divorces fell from 109,883 in 1986 to 70,607 in 2021, while husband-granted divorces dropped slightly too. Benson sees this decline as great news for marriage and society as a whole.
