Couples ‘putting off divorce due to cost of living crisis’ in England and Wales

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Published: 2026-09-23T15:58:31.512Z • Permanent link

Lawyers at the University of Cambridge's Centre for Family Law and Policy have been studying the impact of the cost of living crisis on marriage and divorce in England and Wales. According to their findings, financial pressures are causing couples to delay or forego divorce. The latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals that fewer divorces are being recorded after longer periods of marriage, with some couples choosing to stay together rather than risk financial instability.

The ONS data, which covers the period from 2020 to 2022, shows that the number of divorces in England and Wales has decreased by 10% compared to the same period in 2019. This trend is particularly pronounced among couples who have been married for 20 years or more, with some 40% choosing to stay together despite financial difficulties. The lawyers at the University of Cambridge believe that these figures are a direct result of the economic uncertainty caused by the cost of living crisis.

The delay in divorce is having a significant impact on the financial lives of couples, with some choosing to remain in unhappy marriages rather than risk financial instability. According to a report by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), some couples are even delaying divorce to avoid the impact of pension and other financial implications on their retirement plans.

The delay in divorce is having a significant impact on the research communities and institutions that study marriage and family dynamics. The University of Cambridge's Centre for Family Law and Policy, for example, is working with the FCA to better understand the impact of financial pressures on marriage and divorce. The FCA is also using this data to inform its policy decisions on financial planning and divorce.

The delay in divorce is also affecting the financial lives of companies and individuals who rely on divorce settlements as a source of income. For example, some divorce lawyers are reporting a significant decrease in business due to the delay in divorce. The delay is also affecting the research community, with some academics warning that the data may not accurately reflect the true number of divorces.

The delay in divorce is part of a larger pattern of delayed decision-making in the context of marriage and family dynamics. Research has shown that couples are increasingly choosing to delay or forego major life decisions, such as having children or moving in together, in order to wait until financial stability is achieved. This trend is particularly pronounced among younger couples, who are increasingly delaying marriage and parenthood until their mid-30s.