February 2014 - Marriage Foundation

Pre-nups – where “my money” trumps “our commitment”

Follow our latest Modern Marriage blog post by Harry Benson.

For better and better . . .

• It’s Valentines Day. A day to celebrate love. But what are the odds that love will last? • Based on my analysis of the latest figures from the Office

Marriage Foundation launches new national resource

The Marriage Foundation has developed this searchable map as a national resource signposting the services of organisations and individuals involved in relationships/marriage education. Like couples, courses come in all

New marriages stronger for 8th year running

ONS divorce data published today appears to show that divorce rates have fluctuated up and down over the past twenty years. However this “year of divorce” method of calculating divorce

Family breakdown costs £50bn a year

Family breakdown costs the UK an estimated £50 billion every year — most of which is spent supporting families who move from one to two households when relationships end. Beyond the financial cost, the social and emotional toll on children can be lifelong.

UK Among highest family breakdown in Europe

The UK continues to experience some of the highest levels of family breakdown in Europe. While divorce rates have declined, this improvement has not been matched among cohabiting couples, who remain significantly more likely to separate.

Lower Divorce Rates – Higher Lone Parents

Divorce rates have fallen dramatically over the past three decades. Yet over the same period, the number of lone-parent families has doubled — because couples who live together without marrying or forming a civil partnership are three times more likely to separate than those who do.

Formal commitment is strongly associated with family stability

Stability remains the norm when parents are married or in a civil partnership — around

75% stay together as their children grow up, compared with 30% of cohabiting parents. The act of formal commitment changes how couples think and behave about their relationship, creating a foundation that is more likely to endure.

The parents’ relationship plays a vital role in children’s development

The single most important factor in a child’s healthy development is the stability of their parents’ relationship. Our research consistently shows that family breakdown is the strongest predictor of teenage mental health problems — and that formal commitment through marriage or civil partnership offers the best protection against this instability.

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Pre-nups – where “my money” trumps “our commitment”

For better and better . . .

Marriage Foundation launches new national resource

New marriages stronger for 8th year running

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