A senior family lawyer has labelled England as the ‘divorce capital of Europe’ with a divorce system that is both ‘paternalistic and unprincipled’.

Financial concerns among married couples are likely to result in a drop in UK divorce rates, according to a survey of Britain’s foremost divorce lawyers.

A recent ruling of Appeal Court judges has seen prenuptial agreements being given recognition in English law for the first time. 

In a landmark case a German heiress is taking her ex-husband to court to enforce a pre-nuptial agreement that would leave him without a penny of her £100 million fortune.  Divorce lawyers are watching the case with interest since its outcome could pave the way for pre-nuptial contracts to become legally binding in English law.

An event being billed as the UK’s first divorce fair is to be held later this month. Organisers describe the event’s purpose as being to help people whose marriages have recently ended in divorce.