Recession cited as major cause of 30% fall in divorces in Clare

FAMILY LAW experts yesterday cited the recession as the primary reason for a big drop in couples seeking divorces in Clare’s courts this year.

According to draft figures released by the Circuit Court in Clare yesterday, there was a 31 per cent drop in divorces in Clare’s courts in 2009.

The figures show that the number of divorces confirmed in court this year was 70 – 32 down on the 102 divorces recorded in Clare’s courts in 2008, while 100 divorces were recorded in 2007.

The 70 divorces confirmed this year is the lowest number of divorces recorded in Clare since 2003 when 64 divorces were confirmed.

Family law experts yesterday agreed that the recession was the primary factor behind the drop.

Solicitor Anne Walsh of Ennis firm John Casey Co said yesterday that many couples whose marriage has broken down “do not now have the financial wherewithal to divorce”.

“People are not going down that road as they cannot provide for two households and they have so many other worries at the moment . . . ,” Ms Walsh said. “Before, there was equity in homes to be divided, but now there is no equity or negative equity and a lot of debt.” Rather than divorcing, couples in some instances “are making do and staying together”.

Family law expert Mary Cashin agreed that the recession was having an impact on the number of divorces. “The Clare situation would reflect what is happening countrywide.” Ms Cashin said that the options for couples breaking up have changed dramatically in the past three years.

“Three years ago, a couple, for argument sake, would have a family house valued at €500,000 and that is today valued at half of that at €250,000 and a mortgage of €300,000 and there may be no reality in selling the home.”