Legal experts attribute a sharp rise in the average duration of marriages before divorce to growing financial pressures, as cost-of-living concerns appear to delay separation proceedings. New data from the Office of National Statistics reveals that marriages ending in divorce now last significantly longer than in past decades, reaching their highest recorded length. The trend marks a reversal from earlier periods when divorces occurred much sooner, suggesting economic strain may be prompting couples to reconsider splitting up. The figures highlight how broader financial challenges can reshape personal relationships and legal decisions.
Lawyers say financial pressures are fuelling ONS figures that show fewer divorces after longer periods of marriageCouples are putting off divorce because of the cost of living crisis, lawyers have said, after figures showing the average length of a marriage ending in divorce in England and Wales reached a record high last year.The Office of National Statistics (ONS) released figures on Wednesday showing that the average marriage ending in divorce lasted for 13 years in 2025. This is the longest since records began in 1963 and up from a record low of 8.9 years in 1985. Continue reading...
