No-Fault Divorce in the UK: Why Divorce Applications Are Falling, Not Rising

Divorce expert: no-fault divorce has coincided with fewer UK divorce applications

When the UK introduced no-fault divorce, many expected one outcome: more couples would end their marriages because the process became simpler and less confrontational.

Official figures suggest the opposite has happened.

According to the latest Ministry of Justice family court statistics, divorce applications fell by 4% in 2024 compared with 2023, despite the no-fault process being significantly more straightforward than the old fault-based system.

Mark Keenan, CEO of Divorce-Online, said the numbers challenge early predictions of a surge in “quick divorces”.

“The statistics show that divorce applications are down 4% in 2024 compared to 2023, even though the no-fault process is far simpler than it used to be,” he said.

What the figures show

• Ministry of Justice statistics for October to December 2024 show there were 24,171 divorce applications under the no-fault process — a 2% decrease compared with the same quarter in 2023.
• Across 2024 as a whole, there were 108,657 divorce applications and 105,449 final orders granted.
• Joint applications accounted for 26% of all applications, up from 24% in the same period in 2023.
• Digital applications made up 97% of all applications in the last quarter of 2024 (up from 95% in the same quarter of 2023).
• The average time from application to final order was 70 weeks in October–December 2024, up 2 weeks on the equivalent quarter in 2023.

Why are fewer couples applying for divorce?

Keenan said the most likely explanation is economic pressure — not a sudden improvement in relationships.

“What we’re seeing is couples who might otherwise separate choosing to remain under one roof because they simply cannot afford to run two households in the current economic climate,” he said.

In practice, this often looks like couples living together for longer after separation, delaying the point at which they formally start divorce proceedings. Housing costs, higher mortgage rates and the general cost-of-living squeeze can make separation feel financially impossible, even when the relationship has clearly ended.

One positive shift: more joint applications

While most divorces are still started by one person, the proportion of joint applications has risen.

“The ability to file jointly is one of the most positive aspects of the new law,” Keenan said. “It allows couples to approach divorce as a mutual decision rather than one person having to ‘blame’ the other, which often caused unnecessary conflict.”

Even where only one person applies, the no-fault process can reduce hostility because the application no longer needs allegations of behaviour or blame.

Digital divorce dominates, but “quickie divorce” fears haven’t materialised

Digital divorce continues to dominate the system. Keenan said the efficiency of online processing is clear, with most conditional orders and final orders now processed digitally.

“The move to a fully digital process has made divorces more accessible and efficient, but contrary to fears that this would lead to ‘quickie divorces’, we’re seeing fewer separations overall,” he said.

The 20-week reflection period may be influencing timelines

Under no-fault divorce, there is a mandatory 20-week reflection period between application and conditional order. Keenan said this built-in pause may be contributing to longer overall timelines in the published data.

“The reflection period means couples have time to carefully consider their decision,” he said. “This cooling-off period seems to be helping ensure divorces aren’t rushed into.”

Fewer divorces, but more focus on financial outcomes

Although overall divorce applications fell, financial remedy applications increased by 5% in the last quarter of 2024 compared with the same quarter in 2023.

Keenan said this suggests that couples who do proceed are increasingly focused on formalising their financial position.

“This suggests that while fewer couples are divorcing, those who do separate are more focused on getting proper financial settlements in place,” he said. “With housing costs so high, ensuring a fair division of assets has never been more important.”

What happens next?

Keenan believes economic pressures will continue to shape divorce patterns in the near term.

“Until we see significant improvements in the cost of living and housing affordability, we expect this trend of couples postponing separation to continue,” he said. “For many, the financial implications of divorce are simply too daunting in the current climate.”

He added that wider family court figures still show relationship breakdowns are happening, even where couples delay formal divorce — including an increase in domestic violence remedy applications in the same reporting period.