New research from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), shows that marriage does not make relationships between parents more stable.
The research found that parents who cohabit when their child is born are 27% more likely to be separated by the time their child is 5 years of age, whereas only 9% of married parents are likely to be separated by the time their child is 5 years of age.
However, cohabiting parents are generally younger, less well off, less likely to own their homes, more likely to have fewer educational qualifications and less likely to have planned to have children. Married couples are more likely to be older, better off, more likely to own their homes, more likely to have educational qualifications and more likely to have planned to have children. Once these differences are accounted for, the difference in the likelihood of separation for parents falls to 2 percentage points.
Therefore the research concludes that marriage by itself is not an indicator of how likely parents are to separate. So encouraging more people to get married would not affect the rate of separation. Stability in relationships is mainly determined by age, education, occupation, income and planning for children. Whilst married couples are less likely to separate than cohabiting couples, it is not because they are married but due to the factors that have led to marriage.
If you have any concerns about separation or divorce and children, please contact James Haworth on 0116 212 1080 or Janet Hopkins or Alistair Dobson on 01858 445480 now or complete one of the on-line forms. James is a member of the Leicestershire Regional Committee for Resolution, an association of legal professionals working to reduce conflict in separation and divorce.
Lawson-West can also help with Living Together agreements for cohabiting couples and Pre-Nuptial Agreements for couples planning to marry.
