Divorces Drop by 25%

Provisional figures from the General Register Office for Scotland today showed the number of couples who divorced in 2008 fell from 12,773 in 2007 to 9,333 last year - a drop of more than a quarter. However, because of the change in the law in 2006, which reduced the separation period for couples who are divorcing there was an increase in the number of divorces in 2006. The number dropping after then and the average number of divorces over 2006 to 2008 was about 11,700 a year, which was in line with the figures before the change in the law.

Marriages dropped from 29,866 in 2007 to 28,903 and the figures also show an increase in births to 60,041, 50.1% to unmarried parents.