THE national divorce rate may have fallen for a third consecutive year but a leading family lawyer in Sheffield predicts that the economic climate will put more couples under pressure.
"Traditionally the summer period is quiet for divorces but this year the rate doesn't seem to have dropped," said Martin Loxley of law firm Irwin Mitchell.
More: Hear Loxley's podcast about the credit crunch and divorce"One potential explanation is the extra stress in relationships brought about by the credit crunch and the current economic situation and I think we will see a pattern emerging whereby the divorce figures rise for the next couple of years.
"Also falling house values are leading to more couples finding themselves in negative equity which could force them to remain together as they see no way out and no way in which they could afford to separate.
"This is likely to add to stress within the relationship and they will find themselves torn between leaving an unhappy relationship and being tied to each other due to poor financial circumstances."
The divorce rate in England and Wales has reached its lowest level since 1981, with the exception of the over-60s. There are now 11.9 divorces per 1,000 couples compared with the 2006 figure of 12.2.
Mr Loxley said: "I think in general people are being more cautious about marriage. For example the age that couples are entering into marriage is rising. This is leading to a drop in the divorce figures."
More podcasts by Martin Loxley:
Marriage vs Cohabitation PrenupsCivil Partnership Domestic violence Children in family disputes The full article contains 271 words and appears in Sheffield Telegraph newspaper.
