According to data from Stowe Family Law published in the Independent, enquiries relating to separation increased from 4,505 in January to March 2020 to 8,801 during the same period in 2021.

Female spouses made up most of these, with law firms noting increased complaints with relation to the behaviour of the male partner. While there were of course plenty of instances where divorce was triggered by wives ‘behaving unreasonably’, many more women filed for divorce based on adultery, violent or unpleasant behaviour of their husbands.

This is no new trend, as figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that women have been more likely than men to file for divorce since as far back as 1949. This has increased steadily over the years, with around 62% of divorces initiated by women in 2019.

Lockdown tensions fuelling new divorce enquiries

A rise in divorce enquiries is no major surprise, considering the events of the last 12 to 18 months. Most couples have been spending much more time together during numerous lockdowns, and many within the same four walls. People have also had limited access to time spent with friends and family, which can be helpful for offloading about relationship issues and getting advice before fractures turn into major problems. 

This appears to have exacerbated existing relationship issues, coinciding with more people reassessing their lives in the wake of the pandemic.

But according to some research, the coronavirus crisis seems to have been the actual cause of problems for couples with formerly happy marriages.

The law firm carried out a survey of around 400 people throughout the country, to find out what was driving the decision to divorce (or contact a divorce solicitor). Surprisingly, around 75% of couples said they had no tensions or issues before Covid-19 struck.

Around 25% said the decision to split was driven by too many arguments, caused by spending a lot of much time together. A further 20% of people blamed financial pressures, while a similar proportion said they felt they’d ‘grown apart’ from each other.

Steps to take if you’re considering divorce

If any of the above feels familiar and you’re thinking about separation, here’s what to do next:

·        Consider relationship counselling (if appropriate) – it can be hard to ask for help, but it could be a turning point for the two of you.

·        Get legal advice – get in touch with Wirral divorce solicitor Tracey Miller for practical, jargon-free advice and information to help you make the right choices, all delivered with empathy and understanding.

·        Get organised – start gathering together paperwork (your divorce lawyer will help you with this) and totting up your finances, so you’re ready to make key decisions when the time comes.