Survey reveals economic climate responsible for delaying divorce
The 10th annual matrimonial survey of UK family lawyers by Grant Thornton has shown that the economy and legal aid changes are having an effect on divorce work.
Almost a half (49%) of the 85 'leading' family lawyers canvassed said that they had seen a decrease in the number of divorces due to the economic climate while 79% of respondents considered that the recession had led people to delay commencing divorce proceedings. This appears to be supported by recent research conducted in the United States.
However, no respondents said that the average value of assets was less than £250,000 (compared with 14% in 2012). 15% of cases had assets of more than £4 million, with four per cent of those being more than £10 million (compared with six per cent and two per cent respectively in 2012). Grant Thornton says that this may be related to the recent economic recovery or to the increase in the number of litigants in person dealing with the lower-value cases.
29% of respondents cited growing apart (the highest ever response for this answer) as the main reason for marriage breakdown, compared with 24% citing an extra- marital affair, the next most popular answer.
Other reasons, in descending order, included: unreasonable behaviour, mid-life crisis, financial or money worries, emotional/physical abuse, workaholism, stress, family strain, empty nest syndrome and business problems.
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