News
Fewest divorces since 1971 despite new ‘no-fault’ laws
23rd February 2024
The Telegraph
Divorces have hit their lowest level since 1971 despite the introduction of new “no fault” laws, official data have revealed.
There were 80,057 divorces granted in England and Wales in 2022, figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show, marking an almost 30 per cent decrease compared with the 113,505 granted in 2021.
It is the lowest number of divorces since the Divorce Reform Act, which included the irretrievable breakdown of marriage as a ground for separation, came into effect in 1971.
The figures have prompted surprise among industry experts, as new “no-fault” divorce laws, which allowed married couples to begin legal proceedings without apportioning blame for the breakdown of their marriage, came into effect in April 2022.
The changes were intended to reduce the potential for conflict between divorcing couples and help them avoid the “blame game”.
Read more: The Telegraph
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