FOI/2021/2724
You asked
Please supply data on the distribution of wealth between opposite sex divorce cases in England and Wales for 2019.
The information can be presented to show all monies such as lump sums, monthly alimony, child allowances, value of housing etc paid Male to Female, then the same information Female to Male.
Please supply the total figure for transfer of wealth.
We said
Thank you for your enquiry.
Our divorce statistics are derived from information recorded by HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) during the divorce process. Figures represent both divorces and annulments that took place in England and Wales; annulments are where the marriage was not legally valid in the first place. Divorce statistics do not include married couples who separate but do not divorce.
Since the 2013 data, divorce data have been extracted from the HM Courts and Tribunals Service's (HMCTS') FamilyMan case management system.
We receive the following information supplied by both the court and petitioner and respondent:
date of marriage
age at marriage (in years)
marital status at marriage (single, widowed or divorced)
date petition filed and date of decree absolute
facts proven and class(es) of decree
dissolution type (same-sex couple or opposite-sex couple) -- this has been supplied since 2014 following the introduction of marriages of same-sex couples
Financial Agreements are not recorded as part of this process and therefore we consider this information not held.