Half of UK divorcing couples use a private investigator
to confirm suspicions of cheating says new research
Monday 23 April, 2007
Nearly half (49%) of all divorcing couples in the UK
during 2006 used a private investigator to confirm (or deny) their
suspicions that their spouse was cheating on them, a considerable
increase from 2005 when only 18% used a private investigator,
according to new research published today by Grant Thornton's
Forensic and Investigation Services practice.
The findings form part of the Grant Thornton Forensic and
Investigation Services practice's fourth annual survey of 100 of
the UK's leading lawyers dealing in family law. The survey assesses
trends in the matrimonial market and canvasses the views and
opinions of family lawyers.
Of those who used a private investigator, the survey
highlighted that in 30% of cases it was women who used such a
service, and in the remaining 19% of cases it was men checking up
on their wives.
Andrea McLaren, head of Grant Thornton's London
Matrimonial Practice, says: "For the fourth year running our survey
has shown that extra marital affairs is the primary reason cited
for the break down of marriages in the UK. As this figure continues
to rise, it is little wonder that the number of individuals using
private investigators continues to rise."
"While we anticipated that this figure would increase from
2005 to 2006, we had no idea that it would be such a significant
increase," continues McLaren. "In addition, women appear to be
using investigation specialists at a far higher rate than their
male counterparts."
Reasons for divorce
According to the lawyers surveyed, the cited reason for
marital breakdowns in the UK in nearly one third (32%) of cases was
due to one partner having an extra marital affair during 2006, up
from 29% in 2005 and 27% in 2004.
In those instances where adultery was cited, the lawyers
said that in two thirds (69%) of cases it was men who 'played away'
and in the remaining one third (31%) it was women. In 17% of
instances, behaviour was cited as the main reason behind the
marriage breaking down, followed by family strains in 8% of cases
(up slightly from in 2005) and decisions of a personal nature (i.e.
only one partner wanting to have a child) in 4% of
instances.
However, the number of divorces attributed to emotional
and physical abused continued to decline, with only 4% citing it as
the reason for their divorce, down from 12% in 2005.
Commenting on the reasons for divorce, McLaren says: "Our
survey has shown that infidelity continues to be the primary reason
cited for divorce in the UK and that this trend is likely to
continue."
Concealing assets
One of the most surprising results of this year's survey
was the reduction in the number of couples who tried to conceal
assets from their spouse while divorcing them. In 2006, only 10% of
couples hid assets from their partner, down from 16% in
2005.
"We did not anticipate the significant drop in the number
of couples attempting to hide assets from one another," says
McLaren. "Particularly given the judgement in the Miller and
McFarlane cases, which saw wives getting a larger share of the 'pot
of wealth' than their husbands. One would almost have expected this
figure to increase after this judgement from the House of Lords as
spouses try to keep assets out of the 'pot of wealth' which the
Court will divide between the spouses."
"However, possible reasons for the decline could include
the sophisticated forensic techniques available these days to
search for such 'hidden' assets, making it harder to conceal them
from a spouse," she said. "Or it could simply be due to the fact
that women today have a stronger awareness of and indeed
involvement in their financial affairs than in the past," concludes
McLaren.