‘Divorce Day’ looms for couples tomorrow but experts predict lower numbers than last year

‘Divorce Day’ looms for warring couples tomorrow but experts predict lower numbers of inquiries than last year because more decided to split up while in lockdown

  • Co-op Legal Services has said it recorded a 250% rise in inquiries through 2020 
  • First working Monday in January has long held its grim nickname as ‘Divorce Day’
  • This is usually because couples’ problems exacerbated during the festive season

‘Divorce Day’ looms for couples on Monday but experts predict lower numbers of inquiries than usual. 

Family lawyers have said that lower figures are not because couples are getting along better than before.

They have suggested this is because people decided to split up while living together in lockdown during the pandemic.

‘Divorce Day’ looms for couples on Monday but experts predict lower numbers of inquiries than usual (file image)

The first working Monday in January has long held its grim nickname as the day which brings a spike in divorce inquiries.

This is usually because couples’ problems have been exacerbated during the festive season.

But Co-op Legal Services has said it has already recorded a 250% rise in inquiries through 2020 compared with 2019.

There has been a pronounced spike since the pandemic hit the UK in March.

Lawyer Edward Cooke, of Edward Cooke Family Law, said divorce inquiries had trebled after the UK’s first lockdown period between June and October.

However, the figure was lower during lockdown itself.

Family lawyers have said that lower figures are not because couples are getting along better than before but because they have split up during lockdown (file image)

Family lawyers have said that lower figures are not because couples are getting along better than before but because they have split up during lockdown (file image) 

He said: ‘I don’t think people’s relationships are breaking down because of the pandemic, but people with pre-existing problems have seen the pandemic highlighting the fissures.’

But Mr Cooke has also said many couples have had more success in working through their problems by spending time together during lockdown.