Break up Britain: The 2025 Divorce Report

From costly court costs to raging arguments and lengthy delays, it’s fair to say the divorce process is a turbulent experience for the majority of couples. That said, almost half of all marriages in the UK end in divorce, meaning it’s a life event that many people will encounter at some point in their life. To shed light on divorces in 2025, our team of divorce law specialists have taken a deep dive into all 37,965 divorces from the last six months of available data to uncover the locations in the UK where marriages are most likely to end. As well as identifying the areas in the UK with the highest divorce rates, our report has drawn on candid insights from more than 500 individuals who’ve experienced the end of a marriage to identify the latest trends and insights related to divorce.

So, whether you’re navigating the emotional terrain of separation or simply curious about the changing face of relationships in Britain, this comprehensive report blends data with practical advice from our legal experts to help couples move forward with clarity and confidence.

The locations where people are getting divorced the most 

Taking the unwanted crown of ‘The Divorce capital’ of the UK is London, where there have been a staggering 2,870 divorces over the last six months. While there might be a vast array of date night options in England’s capital city, the divorce rate here is 256.73 per 100,000 people – making it the undisputed divorce capital. In fact, the divorce rate is nearly three times higher here than in any other location in the UK.

Outside of London, the picture is more balanced, with Salisbury taking second place with 86.40 divorces per 100,000 people. There have been a total of 223 divorces over the six month period in this medieval cathedral city in the south of England. Staying down south, it’s the popular seaside resort of Torquay, which ranks third for divorces. Despite more couples cutting ties with each other than in Salisbury, the divorce rate here is marginally lower at 83.48. Making up the top five is Exeter, where the divorce rate is 82.68, and the South Yorkshire city of Doncaster, where the rate is 80.26

The 15 locations where people are getting divorced the most

Having surveyed 534 separated Brits, we can reveal that the most common reason for divorce is cheating. Perhaps unsurprisingly, a third (33%) of all marriages ended due to ‘adultery’. Second on the list is ‘growing apart’, which was cited as the main reason for separation in just over one in four (27%) of divorces. Responsible for over one in 10 (11%) of divorces was ‘lack of communication’.

The most common reasons for divorce in the UK

The 15 locations where people are getting divorced the least

At the other end of the spectrum are the locations where the bonds of marriage appear strongest. Topping the list as the place with the lowest divorce rate is Liverpool, with just 41.12 divorces per 100,000 people. This famous maritime city, known for its vibrant culture and passionate people, also seems to be home to some of the country’s most committed couples – with only 367 divorces recorded over the six-month period. Close behind is Harrow, a leafy suburb in northwest London, where only 238 couples have legally separated. With a divorce rate of 44.81, the residents of Harrow are clearly in it for the long haul.

Continuing this trend of enduring relationships is another town in London, Sutton. Only 117 divorces have taken place, equating to a rate of 49.18 per 100,000 people. With its charming green spaces and family-friendly communities, it’s no surprise that Sutton couples are choosing to stay together.

Enfield follows in fourth place with a divorce rate of 50.88, while the historic city of St. Albans rounds off the top five with a similarly low separation rate of 51.04. The couples in these locations appear to be weathering life’s storms hand in hand, proving that romance and resilience are alive and well across the UK.

Almost a quarter of divorces happen before the 9-year mark

On average, we discovered that almost one in four (23%) couples filing for divorce were married for 5 to 8 years – so if you’re past the nine-year mark, you’re well on your way to a long-standing marriage. Although divorces are known for being costly, we found there was quite a big discrepancy here. Although almost half (45%) of divorces cost under £1,000, 15% of divorces did cost more than £10,000. For those wanting to keep the costs down when going through the divorce process, here are four top tips from Lauren Greenhalgh, consultant solicitor in our Divorce Law team:

1. Get organised

Many lawyers, including ourselves here at Richard Nelson, provide a free consultation call to go over your specific situation without any further obligation. To make the most out of this opportunity, get organised and gather all the relevant information that will help you get the best advice.

Be as open and honest as you can in this initial meeting and ensure you have the following to hand:

• Your marriage certificate
• Your children’s details (mainly their names, dates of birth and any additional needs)
• Bank statements from your personal and joint accounts
• Yours and your spouse’s current employment details
• Information about properties, debts, investments and pensions
• Your prenuptial agreement, if you have one

2. Do not hide assets

It is illegal to hide assets in a divorce, and doing so could see you facing prison time for contempt of court. Furthermore, you will incur more costs in solicitor and court fees if extra time needs to be spent uncovering your assets.

Make sure you have a detailed account of all your capital when filing so that both parties, their solicitors, and, if needed, the courts, can view it in full and come to a decision.

3. Agree on assets before filing

If possible, try to agree on the division of assets before filing for divorce, as this saves on additional costs incurred from going to court to dispute and settle matters. The assets that couples will need to agree on splitting include:

• Property
• Savings
• Shares
• Pensions
• Assets held abroad
• Liabilities for debts
• Child custody, including maintenance and school fees, etc.

Remember, until any agreement has been drafted into a consent order and approved by a court, it is not legally binding.

4. Opt for a no-fault divorce

The introduction of no-fault divorces in 2022 marked an end to the previous requirement of one party being to blame for the breakdown of a marriage or a long-term separation.

Thus, to prove that the marriage had irretrievably broken down, your relationship had to fit into one of the following categories:

• Your spouse has committed adultery, and you find it intolerable to live with them
• Your spouse has behaved in such a way that you cannot reasonably be expected to live with the respondent
• That your spouse has deserted you for at least 2 years
• You have lived separately and apart for 2 years, and your spouse consents to the divorce
• You have lived separately and apart for 5 years

As the need to prove fault has been removed in the instance of no-fault divorces, parties can jointly apply for a divorce without the additional litigation to defend or prove blame, which can increase divorce costs.

More than one in five couples found breaking the news to their children the hardest part of the divorce process

Costs weren’t the only headache caused by divorces. When asked what the most difficult part of their divorce was, more than one in four (22%) people said it was the ‘emotional pain and heartbreak’. Given that a lot of time, effort and love are put into relationships, it’s perhaps unsurprising to see this top the list. Coming in a close second was breaking the news to the children, which caused 21% of people the biggest stress. For those unsure about how to approach informing your kids of the separation, we’ve teamed up with Georgia Turner, a life coach and divorce counsellor, who explains the importance of using the right language in these instances:

“As we all know, sometimes, it isn’t what you say but how you say it. When discussing divorce with their children, parents may accidentally cause upset in their well-meaning attempt to bring reassurance. Here are some key phrases to avoid with some more appropriate alternative approaches.”

1. “It’s not your fault”

“While, of course, it goes without saying that a child is not responsible for a relationship breakdown, stating that the fault isn’t theirs suggests that it is somebody else’s.

Using this phrase may leave your child feeling that something is wrong with the family.

Instead, approach the conversation with both parents present (if possible) and offer a clear, balanced explanation, such as, “Sometimes adults can’t live together anymore because they have different needs or wants”. This offers an honest explanation without placing blame.”

2. “We still love you, nothing will change.”

“Although this is meant to bring comfort, the reality is that many things (external to your love) will change in your child’s life. When living arrangements and daily routines are altered, there could be confusion and an unpreparedness for those changes.”

“Try switching your focus to fostering a safe and loving environment around the breaking of the news using your actions, not words. Ensure that you pick a calm and private moment in a location where your child feels safe. Avoid having the conversation in the middle of a chaotic situation.”

3. “We’ll still be a family, just in a different way.”

“This phrase might give a false sense of continuity when, in fact, the family structure is changing drastically. Your child may be unable to reconcile the new family dynamic with the old one.

Alternatively, focus on reassuring your child that both parents still love them and that they are not responsible for the divorce and maintain consistent routines to help provide stability.”

4. “It’s just a phase.”

“It is true that the divorce process will not last forever, but a divorce is very much a permanent change in a child’s life that is not a phase and will continue past the final papers being signed.

To avoid minimising your child’s feelings and underrepresenting the change, be honest without oversharing too many adult details. Keep in mind your child’s age and tailor your explanation to their current levels of understanding – not everything needs to be said now.”

5. “You’re going to be okay.”

“Although designed to bring reassurance, this phrase can inadvertently play down your child’s feelings or experiences. Children often need validation of their feelings rather than quick consolation.”

“Try asking how they are feeling and listen actively to their concerns and questions. It is important that during this, you do not interrupt them or downplay their emotions.”

More than nine in 10 separated couples didn’t have a prenuptial agreement 

Although awareness around prenups is increasing, our research reveals less than 7% of divorced couples have them – increasing the likelihood of a lengthy and costly divorce. Of those who did have a prenup, nearly a quarter (23%) included the arrangement of assets, with one in 10 (11%) including dispute resolution methods – ensuring they could avoid court proceedings during the divorce process. With pets often being central to family life, it was perhaps unsurprising to see more than one in 20 prenups (5.24%) outlined how the ownership of pets would be handled.

One in six divorcees change career paths or restart studying 

Going through a divorce often gives people the opportunity for self-reflection and to identify areas of their life they want to change. Our research has found that many people make significant changes not just to their personal life but to their professional life post-divorce. One of the key changes people make is centred around their jobs, with 18% of respondents saying they changed career paths or restarted studying following their divorce. When it comes to changes to people’s personal lives, one in five people (20%) went to the length of moving cities, and 19% redesigned social circles and friendships. Pursuing new hobbies was also a popular change amongst newly single people. More than one in four (27%) revealed they’d taken up a new interest following their divorce.

Although almost three-quarters (74%) of divorcees didn’t mark or celebrate their divorce, just over one in 10 (11%) did revert their surname to their maiden name. Other notable occasions Brits use to mark their divorce include selling or redesigning their wedding ring (8%), booking a solo holiday (5%) and hosting a divorce party (4%).

Methodology

We submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) requesting data on every divorce that had taken place over the last six months. For each divorce, we requested the first half of the applicant’s postcode. The latest available data was from between July 2023 & December 2023.

To calculate the divorce rate per 100,000 people, we divided the number of divorces by the total population in that location and multiplied the answer by 100,000. Population data was sourced from Doogal.co.uk.

In addition to our FOI request, we also surveyed 534 divorced Brits to build a comprehensive picture of the latest trends and tendencies associated with divorces.