New figures from the Office for National Statistics show couples are staying married significantly longer before divorcing, with the average duration reaching a record 13 years in 2025, compared to 8.9 years in 1985. Divorce lawyers attribute this partly to the cost of divorce, suggesting couples cannot afford the financial consequences of separation. This reflects broader changes in society, including shifts in attitudes to marriage, whilst overall divorce rates remain stable.

In 2025, there were 105,002 divorces in England and Wales, comprising 102,879 opposite-sex and 2,123 same-sex couples, a significant decrease from peak levels of around 150,000 per year in the 1980s-2000s. The article also covers a Marriage Foundation report criticising Labour's marriage reform proposals, advocating instead for a simpler system using existing registrars at a cost of £155 per marriage, similar to models in France, Germany and Switzerland. Labour's consultation on reform closes Thursday, with new legislation needed for implementation, meaning changes are unlikely to take effect before next year.