header-logo header-logo

Break point?

18 November 2020 / Linda Lamb
Categories: Opinion , Family , Divorce
printer mail-detail
32310
Linda Lamb looks into reports of a recent surge in divorce enquiries & makes the case for ADR

Citizens Advice has highlighted a surge in requests for guidance on divorce searches over the summer lockdown. Already, there are disputes on social media between family lawyers claiming that this is false and others attest there has been a surge in new enquiries.

This sounds similar to the debate that happens every year between family lawyers about whether there is a surge in couples wanting to separate post-Christmas (the oft reported ‘Divorce Day’). From my own experience, and also the noise on the grapevine in family circles, the surge in divorces expected is true.

It seems credible that the chinks in family relationships would become more obvious when families have been forced to spend many months together without respite. We see this with the ‘silver splitters’, where there has been a recent increase in the number of long term partners seeking to split as they head into retirement. After facing every day together, some spouses realise

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
back-to-top-scroll