Law Articles

Increase in number of divorces 29/07/2022

Since the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 came into force on 6 April 2022, which allows couples to divorce without assigning blame for the breakdown of their relationship, the number of divorce applications has dramatically increased. There were 12,978 new divorce applications in April 2022 compared to 6,764 in April 2021.

Under the new rules, couples can issue divorce proceedings on a sole basis, or jointly with their spouse. The published statistics show that of the 12,978 new divorce applications in April 2022, 10,207 were made on a sole basis and just 2,771 were joint applications.

As a result of the increased number of divorce applications, as well as other existing family law cases such as disputes about division of family assets and childcare issues, there are considerable delays and backlogs in the Family Court, even though all courts in England and Wales are now operating at full capacity.

Delays in court proceedings often exacerbate an already difficult situation for people who are separating, so it is always best to obtain early legal advice in family cases as this often helps guide people in the right direction and facilitates early settlement, either by way of mediation or solicitor negotiation, which means court proceedings can be avoided.

For further information and advice on this issue, and other family law issues, please contact us for a free initial consultation on 01992 306 616 or 0207 956 2740 or email us.