New research from leading law firm reveals 36% people are dating before divorce…and not confessing to it!

Whether you love it or loathe it, Valentine’s Day is swiftly approaching, the annual holiday dedicated to showing feelings of love and affection to those who mean most. With this, leading divorce and family law firm Maguire Family Law has released the results of a recent survey revealing that a shocking 36% of people in the UK would not disclose to a potential new partner that they are legally still married.

First dates are an opportunity for individuals to get to know one another and to find out whether they could be compatible in a relationship. Commonly asked questions include “How long has it been since your last relationship?”, and “What is your dating history?” How often do people ask “Are you married?”.

In the survey commissioned by Maguire Family Law, when asked, “To what extent, if at all, would you be willing to confess to a new date that you are not yet divorced or in the process of a divorce” 36% of participants answered, ‘not willing’, which suggests that over one in three individuals would happily be dishonest to new dating partners about their current marital status.

Moreover, when the participants were asked, “How, if at all, do you know when it is the best time to start dating someone new” only 11% of participants answered, “when I am officially divorced”, which suggests that a staggering 89% of people are already dating before the divorce is made official. This is often due to an inability to reach a financial agreement during the divorce process in addition to current court backlogs.

In April 2022, “no fault” divorce came into force, meaning that couples no longer need to state grounds for divorce including adultery or any unreasonable behaviour. The reasoning behind this change of law was to reduce the potential conflict and inflamed emotions involved in the divorce process, as it now only needs to take into consideration the marriage breakdown rather than having to particularise the facts.

James Maguire, Founder and Director at Maguire Family Law, commented on the survey results saying, “At Maguire Family Law, we work in the best interests of our clients. We advise on fair agreement and aim to deliver a divorce that is as pain-free, amicable, and cost effective as possible. Often despite best efforts to ensure a quick result, some divorces can be a timely process, and because of this, many individuals will choose to begin dating before the divorce is finalised. We strongly recommend honesty from the word go and to disclose that their divorce is in process or not yet finalised. It is not a great foundation to begin a new relationship where major aspects of your life are concealed. And especially where children are concerned.”

The survey carried out by Maguire Family Law consisted of a range of questions about relationships, how long the right time is to move on, who influences dating decisions and more, and was open to participants across the entirety of the UK, from ages 16 and above.