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Published byHollie Hensley Modified over 9 years ago
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DIVORCE A DISASTER? Ruth Deech Gresham College September 2009
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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
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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
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Reasons Recession – or female economic independence Housing shortages
Age of marriage Legal aid Remarriage more fragile Easier divorce law Special procedure
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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
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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
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Children Poorer educational and employment outcome Drink, drugs
Psychological harm Relationship breakdown Physical harm
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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
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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
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