Recent research from Divorce-Online.co.uk, the UK’s leading online divorce provider, reveals how the pandemic, new divorce laws, and financial pressures have reshaped marriage and separation across England and Wales.

Drawing on the latest releases from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the findings show how couples have adapted their relationships and divorce decisions in the aftermath of COVID-19 and the introduction of no-fault divorce.

The pandemic’s pause — and the no-fault divorce effect

When lockdowns hit in 2020, family courts shut down, creating an unusual dip in divorce applications despite many relationships being under severe strain. As restrictions lifted, 2021 saw a surge in divorces as couples who had delayed proceedings finally took action.

In April 2022, the no-fault divorce law simplified the process, allowing couples to separate without assigning blame. This triggered a short-term spike as couples waited for the new rules, followed by a slowdown due to the new 20-week waiting period.

According to the ONS, there were 103,816 legal partnership dissolutions (including divorces) in 2023, up from 80,057 in 2022 — a significant increase as courts cleared backlogs and the new system bedded in. See: ONS Divorces 2023.

What lies ahead: divorce patterns for the next decade

• 2027–2029: Post-pandemic divorce wave. Couples who married in 2021–2022 after postponed weddings are likely to reach the traditional 4–7 year divorce peak between 2027 and 2029.
• The cost-of-living effect. Many couples delayed separation due to inflationary pressure. As conditions improve, these financially delayed divorces are likely to emerge gradually. See ONS Cost of Living insights.
• Silver splitters on the rise. Later-life divorces continue to grow, with over-60s showing long-term increases. See ONS data on older couples.
• Economic recovery and divorce uptick. Historically, filings rise when the economy stabilises and households feel secure. See ONS GDP.

“Divorce numbers have always mirrored the nation’s emotional climate. This isn’t the breakdown of marriage — it’s the evolution of it. People are more deliberate and pragmatic about love.”

Spokesperson, Divorce-Online.co.uk

The future of marriage in Britain

The picture is one of maturity, not instability. People are marrying later, often after cohabitation, and entering marriage with clearer expectations. Divorce has become less adversarial under the reformed legal framework.

While short-term spikes may appear, the long-term divorce rate continues to fall. For example, only 17% of couples married in 2012 had divorced by their 10th anniversary, compared with over 25% for those married in the early 2000s (Our World in Data).

Key sources

• ONS: Divorces in England and Wales, 2023
• ONS: Cost of Living Insights
• Our World in Data: Long-term divorce trends