NORTH WEST DIVORCE APPLICATIONS: FOUR TIMES AS HIGH, SIX WEEKS EARLY

SAS DANIELS LLP SOLICITORS

PRESS RELEASE


December 18, 2009.

NORTH WEST DIVORCE APPLICATIONS: FOUR TIMES AS HIGH, SIX WEEKS EARLY.

Appointments to discuss or file for divorce are running at four times the normal level for December, confirming worst beliefs that January 2010 will be one of the busiest periods ever for marriage splits in the North West.

Family department solicitors at SAS Daniels LLP, which has offices in Stockport, Macclesfield, Chester, Congleton and Bramhall, say each of its specialist family lawyers would normally expect to take on fewer clients than usual in the run up to Christmas - around one new client a week - but some are taking on one a day.

“People have been battling to keep marriages intact, but many have simply cracked and crumbled under the relentless pressure of recession. People see the Christmas break as a hiatus in their lives during which they can end one chapter and try to start the next,” said Shelley Hesford of SAS Daniels LLP.

“There is also no doubt that an improvement in the housing market has been an influence, with more cash being realised from the sale of the marital home.

“To my knowledge this is the busiest our firm has ever been for instructions to proceed on filing for divorce.

“In December 2007 our family lawyers were taking on one divorce client a week each – in December 2008 the family team was taking on between two and five new clients a week each, with an average of three a week for each team member, but in December 2009 we have each been taking instructions for as many as nine divorce clients a week.

“The figures for those seeking marriage counseling are up, but clearly many couples believe they have left things long enough, their marriage is over and that they want to get on with matters as soon as possible.

“People realise that by delaying they are simply prolonging the agony – some of our clients have been sitting on the fence for months, but they now want to move fast and start new lives as quickly as possible. The improvement in the housing market is another relevant factor.

“There’s no doubting that an emotional time such as Christmas has pushed many people over the edge.”

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley or Megan Codling

07788 978800 / 07795 848586

im@pressrelations.co.uk / mc@pressrelations.co.uk / www.sasdaniels.co.uk