Pictured above: Nottingham family lawyer Angela Davis

Divorce lawyers are bracing themselves for the traditional busy January, which this year is expected to mark an unprecedented, significant rise in the number of divorcing couples, and start the predicted trend for 2010 as a bumper year for divorces, according to Nottingham family lawyer Angela Davis of Berryman.

"There are a variety of reasons why January is typically one of our busiest periods," says Angela. 

"Firstly, many people 'trapped' in unhappy marriages often persevere and wait until after Christmas to break the news that their marriage has reached a dead-end and is over. They often defer the decision to separate until after Christmas so as not to spoil the festive period for family members and particularly any children. Others see the New Year as the time for a fresh start and to make a break and plan to change their lives, along with other New Year resolutions.

"Secondly, the stresses involved in the run up to Christmas coupled with spending enforced time together with a partner, can result in additional tensions, strains and arguments, ultimately leading to the breakdown of a marriage. Furthermore, Christmas parties are notorious for adultery!"

The UK's divorce rate has fallen in recent years but it is still amongst the highest in the world with two out of every five marriages failing, according to recent statistics. And figures from the Office for National Statistics indicate marriages last an average of just eleven years before break-up and divorce - coining the new phrase for 2010 of 'the eleven-year itch'.

There are already signs that 2010 will be a bumper year for divorce, as Angela explains. "With the recession and tumbling property prices, many people held back from issuing divorce proceedings, but for many they can no longer tolerate the strains and pressures whilst the slight increase in property prices has also been influential in them feeling they have reached the point of no return." 

Meanwhile, social networking sites such as Facebook are increasingly being blamed for marital breakdowns. "In many of the cases I have dealt with recently, Facebook has been mentioned, particularly with husbands or wives changing their status on the website, which is the first time their spouse learns of the breakdown of their relationship. In other cases, husbands and wives have used the social networking website to search for incriminating photographs and evidence of their partners infidelities". 

Many divorce lawyers will remember something similar some years ago when Friends Reunited was at the height of its popularity with people then rekindling old romances.

Berryman is a Midlands' law firm based in Nottingham, which provides an extensive portfolio of legal services within four key areas: Business Services, Property & Construction, Insurance Services and Private Client. It employs over 130 people and has 17 partners.