Celebrity relationships and weddings have often been plagued with drama. Not only are these couples glamorous and powerful, but their volatile relationships also tend to end quickly – and sometimes explosively.
The Heather Mills and Paul McCartney divorce was in the spotlight in 2008. More recently Cheryl Cole has received a blow with claims that her husband Ashley sent X-rated photographs of himself to a model’s mobile phone. A month before the X-rated scandal Cheryl spoke of her determination of making the relationship work and was reported as saying ‘Anyone who throws in the towel ends up achieving nothing’. However, the rumour now is that Ashley wants their divorce to be taken care of and over by the summer and a couple of weeks ago Cheryl was the one rumoured to want a ‘quickie’ divorce.
Despite the headlines about celebrity divorces, in January 2010 the Office of National Statistics annual bulletin on divorce statistics reveal that the number of divorces are falling.
The number of divorces in England and Wales fell by 5% in 2008 to 121,779 compared with 128,232 in 2007. This is the fifth consecutive year that the number of divorces has fallen, from a peak of 153,176 in 2003, and is the lowest number since 1975 when there were 120,522 divorces. The number of divorces was highest amongst men and women aged 40 to 44.
In 2008 there were 11.2 divorces per 1,000 married people. The median duration of marriage was 11.5 years.
For the fourth consecutive year, both men and women in their late twenties had the highest divorce rate of all 5-year age groups. In 2008, there were 26.3 divorces per 1,000 married men aged 25 to 29 and 27.8 divorces per 1,000 married women aged 25 to 29. This compared with 16.8 divorces per 1,000 married men aged 45 to 49 and 14.6 divorces per 1,000 married women aged 45 to 49 in 2008.
Half of couples divorcing in 2008 had at least one child aged under 16. There 106,763 children aged under 16 who were in families where parents divorced in 2008. Over 21% of the children were under five and 63% were under eleven.
As fascinating as these statistics may be they do not show the devastating effect divorce can have on the individuals involved. The breakdown of any relationship gives rise to complex emotional, financial and practical issues. This is where our Family law team can help you and we will ensure that you receive straightforward, clear, common sense advice and support you though the divorce procedure.
To discuss matters further please contact our Family team to make an initial appointment.
