Couples prevented getting divorced due to cost-of-living crisis
More than a third of Brits who say they want to separate claim the cost-of-living crisis has prevented them from getting a divorce
It's claimed loveless couples across the UK are being prevented from separating due to the costs of a divorce.
The cost-of-living crisis is being cited as one of the reasons families are being left unable to start to the process.
35% of Brits who want to separate claim that the cost of living has prevented them from filing for divorce – in fact the financial crisis is more likely to be keeping them together than kids (33%)
28% of those could not afford the divorce, with a further 25% saying only one party could afford it.
Out of those who are already divorced / in the process of getting divorced, over half (54%) wish they had started the divorce proceedings earlier, as the process led to increased stress and anxiety (42%) and had a negative impact on the children (29%)
It comes at a time when family lawyers would usually see a spike in people coming forwards requesting a divorce.
Today (Monday 9th) is so-called 'divorce day' when couples who've been putting off speaking to lawyers over the holiday period finally start proceedings.
Georgina Chase, principal lawyer and head of the family law team at Manchester-based firm Slater and Gordon, said:
"We find at Slater and Gordon that divorce inquiries do spike due to many couples waiting certainly until after the festive season to avoid that conflict over the holidays at a time when obviously it's supposed to be such a magical period for children.
"What we're seeing is that the current financial climate may lead to an increase in marital and family breakdowns due to the heightened tensions and stresses that money difficulties cause.
"We're all seeing soaring bills, spiralling energy costs, rising interest rates, and the cost for food and fuel going up and I think this really could go one of two ways.
"Either the increased financial pressures could put more strain on a relationship and cause more marriage breakdowns. Or conversely, if people are already feeling the pinch, they may be concerned that they can't actually afford to get divorced at this stage."