These people have all experienced divorce: Divorce involves legally terminating a marriage through three stages - petition, decree nisi, and decree absolute. Not all petitions reach the final stage. Separation can be informal or legal, where a couple lives apart but remains married. Empty shell marriages exist in name only, though this type has declined with divorce availability increasing. Divorce rates account for population and marriages, usually shown as divorces per 1,000 couples. Approximately 40% of UK couples divorce, with rates peaking at 165,000 in 2004 but falling to 113,949 in 2009.

1. What have the following people all
got in common?

2. Divorce

3. Key Terms
DIVORCE
• Means the legal termination of a marriage.
This has 3 stages petition, a decree nisi
and decree absolute.
• Not all petitions reach the decree absolute
stage.

4. Key Terms
SEPARATION
• This may be an informal physical separation of
the couple or it may be a legal separation
through a magistrates court.
• The couple live apart but are still legally married.
• Figures for this are not so reliable.

5. Key Terms
EMPTY SHELL MARRIAGE
• The marriage has broken down but the
couple still live together and are still legally
married.
• The marriage exists in name only.
• This number has declined as divorce has
become more available.

6. Key Terms
DIVORCE RATE
• This is a more reliable guide to the level of
divorce than simple numbers.
• It takes into account the size of the
population and number of marriages.
• Usually expressed as the number of
divorces per 1000 married couples

7. Some statistics
• Approximately 40% of all couples that marry in
the U.K will get divorced.
• In 1931, less than 4,000 people got divorced.
• In 2004 the number of divorces reached their
peak at 165,000
• In 2009, the rate fell to 113,949

8. The general trend
• Figures for divorce have risen dramatically over the last century.
• Although the general trend in numbers divorcing has been upwards,
there have been several periods when the number has declined –
the early 1920s, the 1950s, the 1990s and now most recently.
• There has also been times when the figure has risen rapidly –
usually during or after wartime, or following changes in the law.
(1916-1920 numbers trebled, 1936-40 numbers doubled, 1941-50
numbers increased 5 fold, 1969-1972 numbers doubled)
• The number of couples getting divorced has fallen for 6 years in a
row from a high in 2004.
• The average age for divorce increased very slightly for both men
and women, to 44 and 41.5 respectively in 2009.

9. Why has divorce increased since
the 1970s?
1. Legal changes
2. Impact of feminism
3. The Welfare State
4. Changing Social Attitudes
5. Secularisation
6. Rising expectations of marriage
7. Increased life expectancy

10. 1. Legal Changes
• Prior to 1857 – divorce only available through private act of
parliament. Very costly, upper class only.
• 1857 – new divorce court. Double standard for men and women.
• From 1897 – separation orders available for the working class.
• 1923 – Women placed on equal footing with men, adultery only to
be proved.
• 1937 – Other grounds included, desertion, cruelty and unsound
mind.
• 1949-50 – Legal Aid Act gave assistance to those who couldn’t
afford to go to court.
• 1970 – Divorce Reform act – No longer had to be a guilty party.
• 1985 – The Matrimonial & Family Proceedings Act: time limit for
divorce reduced from 3 to 1 year.
• 1996 – Family Law Act required a ‘period of reflection’ of 18 months
and compulsory marriage counselling sessions

11. Impact of feminism
• About three quarters of
divorce petitions are from
women.
• Women have become
more independent due to
greater equality in the
workforce.
• Women are less
financially and
emotionally dependent on
men.

12. The Welfare State
• State benefits help divorced women –
especially those with children.
• For example: Jobcentre Plus can help with
childcare costs as long as you place your
child with a registered childcare provider
and you are doing something connected
with your chosen career.

13. Changing Social Attitudes
• Divorce has lost its
stigma partly because
there is so much of it.
• In the past, divorce
was rare and seen as
scandalous.

14. Secularisation
• Secularisation is the
decline of the
influence of religion in
society.
• People are less likely
to be influenced by
religious teachings
when considering
divorce.

15. Rising expectations of marriage
• Functionalists argue that people find the
reality of marriage disappointing.
• In the past, people would often marry for
economic reasons, today most people
marry ‘for love’ and happiness.

16. Increased life expectancy
• If you marry in your late
twenties you can expect to live
for another 50 years.
• This may mean people are
more prepared for divorce if
they fall out of love.
• In the past they may have
been prepared to stay in a
loveless marriage as they
would have fewer years to
spend together.