Analysis of Google search data reveals that online searches for ‘No fault divorce application’ exploded 1,316% in England on the 6th April, the same day no-fault divorce law reform came into effect.
A new finding by Income Tax UK reveals that online searches for ‘No fault divorce application’ exploded to over 14 times the average volume on April 6th, an unprecedented spike in people Googling for help to split from their partner, according to analysis of Google search data.
Google searches for ‘no blame divorce’ shot up by 921% and ‘no fault divorce uk’ searches also went up by 737%. This comes as No Fault Divorce Law is introduced in England and Wales on April 6.
After the Act was passed in June 2020, the government announced that no-fault divorce will become law, meaning that couples can divorce without needing to provide evidence of separation or assign blame for the breakdown of a marriage. This means that couples no longer need to rely on the 5 grounds for divorce:
- Unreasonable behaviour
- Adultery
- Desertion for 2 years or more
- 5 years separation
- 2 years separation with consent
‘Divorce online’ Google searches were up by 466% on April 6th and searches for ‘how to get a divorce’ also went up by 496% on April 7th, a day after the law reform was introduced.
No-fault divorce was introduced in order to reduce dissension between separating couples and families as part of a larger government overhaul to improve the family justice system. With the law introduced, couples can instead focus on key future decisions rather than assigning blame over a marriage breakdown. No-fault divorce applications can be done by a single person and do not require the consent of both parties in order to apply.
A spokesperson for Income Tax UK commented on the findings: “These findings highlight the enormous anticipation that has surrounded the introduction of the No Fault Divorce Law. Marriage breakdowns can be one of the most stressful times in a person’s life, including families with children. When couples cannot reconcile, divorces can become incredibly complicated. This law reform will free individuals from being locked into unhappy relationships where their partner was previously able to block divorce proceedings, and instead allows people to establish an easier way out and look ahead towards the future.”
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If you use these insights, we would appreciate a link to Income Tax UK, which commissioned the data.
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