New research and firsthand accounts reveal that divorce settlements in the UK frequently leave women in financially precarious positions. Despite legal ideals of fairness, women typically experience a 50% drop in income post-divorce, compared to a 30% drop for men. This disparity is compounded by women’s greater involvement in childcare and unpaid domestic work, leading many to sacrifice their careers. Case studies include Isobel, who was left earning a quarter of her ex-husband’s salary while caring for their children most of the time, and Grace, who accepted a minimal settlement to escape her marriage quickly.
Women are also more likely to give up rights to their ex-spouse’s pension—an often undervalued asset in divorce settlements—despite generally having smaller pension savings due to the gender pay gap and career interruptions. Experts like Professor Emma Hitchings argue the current divorce law, based on the Matrimonial Causes Act of 1973, is outdated and lacks protections that reflect modern economic realities for women. With many lacking access to legal aid or financial literacy, the imbalance in settlements is often not addressed in court. Calls for reform are mounting, as the Law Commission awaits the government’s response to a review of current legislation.
Financial experts urge women to seek as much information and guidance as possible during divorce to secure fairer outcomes.
Original title: The ‘ludicrous’ divorce settlements leaving many women ‘devastated’
The AI system has determined that this news is clickbait/sensationalist: The title uses emotionally charged words like 'ludicrous' and 'devastated' to provoke outrage and attract clicks, rather than neutrally summarizing the article’s findings. This has coincided with the opinion of the majority of users.
