Dissolution of civil partnerships has increased by 20% as the official figures suggest evidence of the ‘seven year itch’.
Seven years after the introduction of same sex civil partnerships, in 2005, figures from the Office for National Statistics show that there has been an increase by 20% of the number of people ending their civil partnerships.
The figures also show that lesbian couples are markedly more likely to end their civil partnerships than gay male couples.
Almost six out of ten of those dissolution of civil partnerships involved female couples.
The surge suggests that breakdown patterns are similar to those for heterosexual married couples.
Samantha Lee, expert divorce lawyer at Swain & Co, explains, “The seven year itch has been spoken about in relation to marriage for many many years. Statistically, the first 10 years of marriage are the most vulnerable and divorce has typically occurred between 4 and 8 years.”
“The new figures on the dissolution of civil partnerships, which has the same legal force as divorce, fit the same pattern and come as no great surprise to family lawyers.”
“Just as is the case for divorce, females are more likely than men to take steps to officially ending a relationship.”
Samantha also promotes family mediation to help separating couples to reach amicable agreements on issues arising from the dissolution of civil partnerships. To read more about how family mediation works, visit our dedicated website here.
Swain & Co are experts in divorce, separation and childcare issues.