In my experience some couples rush into marriage without considering the financial consequences that marriage can bring. Couples can get swept away with the romance of marriage and some turn their focus away from the relationship towards creating a fairy tale wedding. Having a “perfect” wedding can be expensive and this can put financial strain upon a newly married couple.
In the media we regularly see celebrities who marry and Divorce without what appears to be a second thought. In my experience as a specialist family lawyer the majority of people who consult me have seriously considered whether their marriage has irretrievably broken down. People do not issue divorce proceedings unless they believe that there is no prospect of a reconciliation.
The research suggests that the increasing numbers of couples divorcing after a short period of time together may be down to the fact that many couples are choosing to marry a partner that they might not actually know that well.
One in seven people surveyed admitted to having been in a relationship with their future spouse for less than a year before getting married, with only 50% of couples even living together before tying the knot. This supports the suggestion that perhaps some people might be rushing into marriage.
In some circumstances it may be appropriate for couples to enter into a Pre-Nuptial Agreement before they marry to set out how they would like financial matters to be dealt with upon separation. This would be a sensible step for couples who may not know each other that well at the time of marriage.
Amy Harris appeared on ITV’s Daybreak this morning to discuss research that revealed that whilst the average length of a marriage before divorce is 14 years, many couples separate after less than a year.
Amy Harris is a Family Solicitor at Slater & Gordon Lawyers in London.
Slater & Gordon have offices nationwide and offer both flexible pricing and fixed fees for family law and divorce. For a free initial consultation call freephone 0800 916 9055 or contact us online and we’ll be happy to help.
