When a couple divorces, their property and finances must be shared across two households rather than one. How much each receives affects both their day-to-day income and the future financial stability of themselves and their children. Yet the law governing this issue is 50 years old and was framed in a time when divorce was still largely based on ‘fault’, comparatively few mothers worked outside the home and child-care after divorce was rarely shared. Weekly or monthly ‘maintenance’ was seen as the main mechanism for supporting ex-wives and child support was an afterthought.

Much has changed since then, both in society’s attitudes and the way families operate and there have been calls to reform the law to bring it up to date. Yet we have very little detailed information about the kinds of financial arrangements couples currently make when they divorce, or the relative effects of different arrangements – ‘clean break’ vs. continuing support, for example. What we do know from large-scale statistical surveys is that divorce and separation still have differential negative impacts on women and children compared to men and that resultant financial hardship and economic and housing insecurity are associated with poorer outcomes for children.

A survey of up to 2,000 people who have divorced in the past five years will be administered by YouGov. The information from this survey will help us build up a nationally representative picture of the kinds of arrangements people make or end up with when they divorce.

During the second stage of the project, the Fair Shares Research team will conduct interviews with 50 divorcees which will collect more detailed information on how arrangements were arrived at, what legal or other advice and support they received and how they put their plans into effect. The study will probe how well they feel that they and their children are coping, both financially and emotionally, with the post-divorce set-up.

The research aims to provide essential data to inform current debates on how the law should be reformed. It will also offer practical guidance to legal advisers, advice and support providers so that the financial needs of families can be better met in future. Fair Shares is led by Professor Emma Hitchings (Bristol University) in partnership with Caroline Bryson and Dr Susan Purdon (Bryson Purdon Social Research) and Professor Gillian Douglas, Professor Emerita at King’s College London.

The project has been funded by the Nuffield Foundation, but the views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Foundation. More information is available at: www.nuffieldfoundation.org.