Free Matrimonial Advice Line over the Christmas Break

Jingle Bells or Jingle Hell?

 

There is often a splash in the news in the New Year about more people seeking divorces and it is true to say that it is often a busy time for the divorce lawyer.

 

The Ministry of Justice published the divorce statistics for the first three months of 2009.  The 32,900 divorces started in that period was a similar figure to the 33,200 started for the same three months in 2008.  However, the number of decrees absolute granted within the same period fell by nearly 11%.  As most people know, decree absolute is the document that brings a marriage to an end.

 

Of course, we can only speculate why fewer people chose to finalise their divorces and we await with interest the figures for the first three months of 2010. 

 

A romantic may say that more and more people have decided to postpone the decree absolute deciding instead to try and save their marriages. 

 

A cynic may say that one of the parties may have been influenced by comments made by a London divorce lawyer whose previous clients include Sadie Frost, Cheryl Barrymore, Eimaer Montgomerie and Irina Abramovich.  He was quoted as saying “Wives would be better now to wait, as the courts are being very wary about awards because of the problem of the ability to make payments.  Hang on in there until times get better”.  The same lawyer was quoted as saying “As for the men: Move on now while your star is low in the sky. You can escape with less.”

 

Perhaps the progression of divorce has stalled because the couple are trying to agree the financial matters before finalising the divorce and those negotiations are delayed as a direct result of the recession, for example, problems in agreeing a value of an asset where a buyer cannot be found, the threat of redundancy, the higher risk of some assets compared to others and how that risk should be shared. 

 

It remains clear that with nearly 33,000 families embarking upon divorce in only the first three months of 2009, that recession or not, many people found their personal lives in turmoil.

 

Divorce and indeed the dissolution of Civil Partnerships has massive impact not only upon the emotions of the individuals concerned, but also upon their financial stability with amongst other things, implications for tax and inheritance.

 

The festive period often shines a spotlight on relationships with people spending more time together than they ordinarily would and it is often the pressures of the season that prove to be the final straw that sees the relationship break down.

 

Here’s hoping that 2010 sees less than 33,000 families in this situation and for those that do, here’s hoping they access the help and advice they need to get through it as painlessly and as swiftly as possible.

 

Follett Stock as always have their divorce lawyers on standby over the festive period for free telephone advice should worried individuals feel the need to talk to a lawyer over the break.

 

For Cornwall call Lynne Bray on 07515 502348 and Devon, Rebecca Gurgul on 07989 971416.