Why today is divorce day

Monday 5^th January has become known as “Divorce Day”, the most popular day of the year for people in the UK to file for divorce and new research suggests Christmas is often the final catalyst, not the cause, of relationship breakdowns.

Research shows that 12% of married or civil-partnered people want a divorce or legal separation and while the new year brings a surge in divorce proceedings, separation is rarely a snap decision.

Research from Slater and Gordon highlights how delaying divorce often comes with regret. In fact, a resounding 57% of couples wish they had started the process earlier, most commonly due to increased stress and anxiety (43%), rising conflict (35%) and negative impacts on children (27%).

Aston spoke to Andrew Ormrod, senior associate in family law at Slater and Gordon.