18/12/2020
Not only does the arrival of the New Year mark an end to the merriment of the Christmas period, but for family law solicitors across the UK, this typically signals the seasonal increase of enquiries from unhappy couples who have decided to separate. Due to this common spike in divorce enquires over the last few years, the first Monday back after the Christmas break has come to be known as ‘Divorce Day’, and in 2021 will fall on Monday, January 4th.
The period in the run-up to Christmas can often be a stressful one, and it is thought that added financial pressures and family tensions over Christmas are often the main reasons why a relationship can breakdown over the Christmas holiday. In January 2019, Relate, the UK’s largest provider of relationship support, said that it saw a 12 percent increase in calls, with website visits up by 53 percent.
It is also thought that a rush of cases at the start of January 2021 will create a real backlog for the courts, creating serious delays in divorce proceedings.
The year 2020 has been tough for us all. Added pressure that has come with increased employment worries, health concerns regarding COVID-19, and more time being spent at home due to enforced lockdowns, will have caused added relationship stress and subsequently the breakdown of some relationships and marriages. If you are facing any family law concerns, Russell & Russell Solicitors are here to help. Our specialist solicitors can provide sensitive, practical advice on a number of family issues and matters you may be facing.
Emergency Advice Lines
At Russell and Russell solicitors we provide a number of ways to access our legal services, including 24hour legal advice lines for access to a solicitor in an emergency. If you need to contact someone urgently over the Christmas holidays, you can contact us on:
Chester: 01244 405744
Manchester: 01204 847999
Getting Divorced in the UK
Under the current system, separating couples have to attribute a conduct or separation ‘fact’ in the form of blame to one of the parties. Culpability falls under two categories: adultery and what is commonly known as unreasonable behaviour. Alternatively, they can separate for a number of years before the divorce is granted. However, attempts to introduce no fault divorces have taken a step closer and at the beginning of 2020, the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill, which is regarded as the biggest shake-up of the family law system in the last 50 years, was reintroduced to Parliament on the 7th January.
It is envisaged that it will help limit the impact which allegations of blame have on divorcing couples and especially children. For more information, please read our previous article on no fault divorce.
Specialist Family Law Advice
At Russell & Russell, we have specialist divorce solicitors in our team who are members of Resolution which promotes a constructive and non-confrontational approach to family issues, that considers the needs of the whole family, in particular the best interests of children.
Russell & Russell provide expert, sensitive and practical advice. Our solicitors can talk through the variety of options that might be open to you, and help you find the most appropriate one for your circumstances. To speak to our family law experts, please Call 0800 103 2600 or make an online enquiry.
Please note that this article is meant as general guidance and not intended as legal or professional advice. Updates to the law may have changed since this article was published.