DIVORCE A DISASTER Ruth Deech Gresham College September

DIVORCE A DISASTER? Ruth Deech Gresham College September 2009

The Market Economy • Not everything has a price • Need to debate values in health, education, families • The link between public and private morality • Conflicting demands on mothers

Statistics • • 231000 marriages 2007, lowest for 112 years 40% end in divorce Highest divorce rate in W. Europe 1857 Act – 24 divorces World War II – 60, 000 Divorce Reform Act 1969 – 119, 000 1993 – 165, 000 2007 decline to 128, 000 because of cohabitation and older age of marriage

Reasons • Recession – or female economic independence • Housing shortages • Age of marriage • Legal aid • Remarriage more fragile • Easier divorce law • Special procedure

The law • Irretrievable breakdown proved by adultery, unreasonable behaviour, two years’ desertion, two years separation with consent, five years separation without consent • 75% petition on “fault” grounds • Financial arrangements and children separately dealt with

The cost is £ 20 -40 billion • • Legal aid Welfare Extra housing Family courts, judges, lawyers Accountants, conciliators Illness from stress Children taken into care Failure of child support schemes

Children • Poorer educational and employment outcome • Drink, drugs • Psychological harm • Relationship breakdown • Physical harm

Law reform • The part played by fault • No need to change the law; would push rates up again • Waiting period of 12 months from start to finish, or • 3 month cooling off after petition • Mediation and conciliation do not save marriages

Education for marriage • Legal aid should be preserved • Education at school about the impact of relationships and divorce, costs, parenting • Help for women to be self-supporting through childcare and career advice • Change of public and political attitudes