Devon separations rates going up or down?
According to the Office of National Statistics, divorce rates are falling across the UK, with 113,505 granted in England and Wales in 2021, in contrast to 103,592 in 2020. The 9.6% increase encompasses all counties in England, including Devon. It is also a likely indicator of the amount of non-married couples Splitting up.
Reasons for the fall in divorce figures
- Rise in Devon’s population
The population in England increased by around 6.6% from 2011 – 2021, and many of the districts of Devon have followed suit. The largest local authority in the South West, Devon has a population of around 802,400 (2019). Again, the pandemic may have contributed to the rise in population as it proved to be the most popular county to move to during the pandemic. Although Devon has always been deemed an attractive country to move to and live in, the pandemic boosted interest, and at the same time, statistically may have been a contributing factor in the number of people divorcing in Devon.
- Court delays COVID-19
The 2020 – 2021 period was affected heavily by the impact of COVID-19. Therefore, disruption to family courts may have been a reason why fewer divorces were granted in 2020 and thus caused a spike in 2021. According to a press release from the Law Society in November 2022, backlogs are still ‘hampering’ the family law courts and causing uncertainty for those involved. The statistics from HM Courts and Tribunal Service stated there was a backlog of over 110,00 cases for the family courts with many cases taking a year until completion.
- The pandemic’s impact on cohabiting and married partners
The pandemic saw an unexpected and unusual shift in how we conduct our everyday lives with many people having to spend more time with their partners and new pressures placed on the family unit in terms of working remotely, child schooling and having to isolate. This resulted in a spike in divorce applications not just in the UK and Devon but around the world. Many legal experts dealing with divorce were not taken aback by the rise as they often see couples filing for divorce after long summer holidays and the Christmas period.
- No fault divorce laws
Although the ONS figures do not include 2022, it is possible that the increase may have continued last year due to the introduction of the new Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020. The new law means that divorcing spouses no longer have to highlight a reason for their divorce and in most cases it will not be possible to contest. Previously, this was a stipulation in proceedings. Unreasonable behaviour was typically one of the most common reasons for divorce, almost 50% of petitions.
The underlying aim is to provide a more amicable divorce process without either party having to apportion blame, therefore reducing the likelihood of conflict and minimising the negative impact on families and couples. The new law is perceived by some as being an ‘easier’ process, giving rise to more people looking favourably on divorce who may have not otherwise considered it an option.
Conclusion
It is uncertain what the future holds for Devon and its divorce rates. A good barometer is to consider the rise in rates in the UK as a whole and the likely future impact of recent significant events and changes in society. With the continued impact of delayed proceedings in family courts, new divorce laws and a brimming population in the county, it is doubtful we can expect a decline in divorce rates for the foreseeable.
