The
One of the surveys undertaken in recent years gives us an insight into the divorce trends in the
Another encouraging factor seen during the year 2005 was in the increase of average years of marriage; a little higher, by 11.6 years, in contrast to 11.5 during 2004.
There were a larger number of contested divorce applications from women and an increased number of divorces were granted to them. More than half of the women mentioned spouse’s ‘unreasonable behaviour’ as the reason for petitioning for divorce. In general, men petitioned for their divorce quoting ‘two years separation’ as the reason. Nearly 25 percent of the women in their early 40s went through a divorce, in contrast to just 1 percent 25 years ago. Most of the female divorcees were working women working longer than average working hours in a week and agitated over the uncompromising changing life styles of their partners.
Nearly 20 percent of people divorced in 2005 underwent a divorced marriage previously. There were 27.1 separations per 1,000 wedded men in the age group 25-29 years and a slightly increased percentage of 28 split ups per 1,000 married women of the same age. Researchers deem that present day women are economically more free and ready to live on their own, instead of enduring a miserable marriage.
More numbers of spouses in their 30s preferred to stay married. The divorce rate among that age group fell by nearly 13 percent compared to last year. But the couples in their late twenties preferred to divorce and their divorce percentage was the highest in the last five years. Similarly 2 percent of the women above 60 years of age preferred to divorce.
The myth that all the marriages that have lasted 20 years or more will last forever has been disproved. There is an increase in the divorce even among long-standing marriages. During the last four years there is an increase of 9 percent in divorce among older couples. Divorce among spouses who have been married for more than 30 years found nearly a two-fold increase when compared to ten years before.
Infidelity-related divorce among older couple is on the increase due to technological developments such as dating web sites, chat rooms and instant-communication devices, like mobile phones.
Developments and research in the field of medicine helped both the sexes, with an increased lifespan, including a healthier lifestyle and active sex life. Couples in their late forties and early fifties are no more averse to divorce than any other age group; if they’re in a miserable marriage they will seek a fresh partner ( and potentially live another 30 to 40 years happily). For example, middle aged women who are liberated financially feel freer to venture divorce and look around for a new partner for a second time.
The number of people who are averse to marriages and just living together is increasing every year. The number of children born out of those living together increased from 8 percent in 1973 to 41 percent in 2003 and may be more in 2004 and 2005. In some parts of the
Some of the recent divorces of prestigious couples were very expensive benefiting their spouse with larger sums of money. For example, Julia McFarlane gave up her paying job to manage her three children. When she applied for a divorce she was allowed to share a third of her husband's £750,000 salary for life. She was only 46 years old when she was awarded £250,000 compensation per month.
In another interesting case Melissa Miller, aged only 36 years, received £5 million as compensation from her husband, Mr Alan Miller, for their short-lived marriage that lasted just less than three years.
Even men had their share of luck. In the year 2003 54 year old Heather Martin-Dye divorced her husband after 16 years of their married life. She was asked to pay £3.5 million to her previous husband.
We may find more interesting facts, changes in the trends of marriages and divorce in the years to come.
