The stark impact of the credit crunch on relationships is documented in a new report in the month when Britain’s divorce lawyers receive more enquiries from people contemplating a divorce than at any other time throughout the year.

Research conducted by insidedivorce.com reveals that financial woes are putting increased pressure on relationships with one in four respondents to the survey reporting relationships under strain from the credit crunch.

Meanwhile, one in 10 (11%) are forced to stay in a failing relationship directly because of the credit crunch, the report finds.

The research is backed up by TakeLegalAdvice.com which reported divorce enquiries up by a third on the same time last year, while relationship website Relate, which supports relationships in the UK, saw an increase on calls received in the festive season - 7694 calls to its helpline in the past two months, up by 59% on this time last year.

One of the UK’s leading divorce lawyers, James Stewart of Manches, says the double whammy of Christmas and the credit crunch will increase the numbers heading for the divorce courts this year. “A stressful Christmas can often be the final nail in the marital coffin. Add this to financial troubles, and you have a divorce recipe. The festive period is a family time which makes it all the more difficult when couples are not getting on. Extra time together can force problems that already exist in the relationship to come to a head. We are expecting this to be our busiest day and indeed our busiest week.”

And TakeLegalAdvice.com, the law firm search site, reveals that the number of people actively seeking lawyers online had doubled, with one in three enquiries specifically relating to divorce over the Christmas period.

The research report, Marriage and Divorce in 2008 Britain**, commissioned by the UK’s most comprehensive divorce website insidedivorce.com in association with TakeLegalAdvice.com supports these findings. The research takes an in-depth look at modern love – the social, economic, sexual and psychological ups and downs that make and break Britain’s relationships.

The current state of the British marriage

The research reveals that nearly one in five marriages (18%) are on shaky ground and could be heading for the divorce courts.

No sex please, we’re British

Two in five (41%) of those surveyed say that their sex lives have decreased, while 17% of married couples are having no sex at all. The research also confirms that having an affair is a common problem leading to the breakdown of a marriage with 38% saying affairs had led to divorce.

Financial woes

The report highlights that one in four (26%) of marriages experience financial woes with 17% of divorced men saying finance had led to divorce. And pressure from redundancy is also taking its toll with 15% of married couples reporting that one of them had experienced redundancy during the marriage.

Seven-year itch

The research also confirms that the infamous ‘seven-year itch’ is a reality with British couples being married for an average of seven years and three months before they realised things were not working. However, it appears that once couples pass their tenth wedding anniversary, it is likely that the marriage will survive. Surprisingly, even before they were married, one in eight divorcees (12%) now admit that they had doubts before they walked down the aisle and said ‘I do’.

Commenting on the findings, Managing Editor of insidedivorce.com Derek Bedlow, says: “These findings paint a bleak picture for marriage in the face of the worst financial downturn ever. Financial woes are making life difficult for married couples. Sex is another stress point for the married – not having it or having it with someone other than your partner – is the main catalyst for divorce. It suggests that we are no longer satisified with having one partner for life.”

Divorce: The Tipping Point

Insidedivorce.com wanted to understand what signifies the tipping point for British marriages. Nearly one in three people (31%) say that discovering their partner was having an affair was a defining moment which signaled the end of their marriage.

Different personal values is the second most popular reason why one in five (21%) marriages end today, while lack of sex is third at 17%.

Where’s the money, honey?

One in 13 reported money troubles as the trigger for divorce. However, on the upside, two in five (42%) reported increased happiness levels as a consequence of divorce. Sadly, men were less likely to be happy with 29% of men saying they were happier compared with one in two women (49%).

Women on top

Indeed, women all round were better placed in divorce with men reporting worse relationships with family and children and career problems.

Property ladder

But both sexes saw their property aspirations suffer as one in three reported falling off the property ladder or having to downsize.

Don’t get even, get it all

Pre-nuptial agreements are still the preserve of celebrities with only 2% of people who are divorced or married having one in place prior to tying the knot. However, nearly a third (28%) now say (in hindsight) that they regret this decision given sorting out joint finances is now part of most divorce deals.

Click here to read "Top 10 tips for credit crunch divorce"

Click here to read "Divorce to rise as property prices fall"

Useful links

TakeLegalAdvice.com