Average length of a marriage ending in divorce rises to 13 years
Commenting in Today’s Family Lawyer, Associate Michal Stepniak discusses why couples may be staying together for longer, as new ONS figures show that the average length of marriages ending in divorce in England and Wales reached a record high of 13 years in 2025.
"The rising average length of marriages ending in divorce may reflect both financial and emotional realities. Many couples simply cannot ignore the economic consequences of separation in the current climate, with the prospect of running two households often leading people to stay together longer than they otherwise might. Others remain for the sake of their children or because they fear the unknowns of life after divorce.
"Yet there is often a disconnect between those fears and the reality. Many people spend years delaying an inevitable decision, only to find that once they have moved through the divorce process, they are happier, more settled and better able to co-parent. For those living in persistently unhappy marriages, the grass is often greener on the other side."
Michal's comments were published in Today's Family Lawyer, 24 September 2026.
