The landscape of family law in England and Wales continues to evolve, with 2024 bringing notable trends in divorce applications, orders to prevent domestic abuse, and private law cases. The latest statistics provide insights into the shifts in family court proceedings, highlighting key areas of growth and decline.
Divorce Applications and Final Orders
Between October and December 2024, there were 24,171 divorce applications, with 74% filed by sole applicants and 26% by joint applicants. Throughout the year, 108,657 divorce applications were submitted, marking a 4% decrease from 2023. However, the number of final orders granted rose by 2%, reaching 105,449.
The introduction of no-fault divorce legislation continues to shape divorce proceedings. In the final quarter of 2024, 23,413 final orders were granted, reflecting a 2% rise compared to the same period in 2023. Digital divorce cases have also seen significant adoption, accounting for 97% of applications by the end of the year.
Orders to Prevent Domestic Abuse
Cases related to domestic violence remained a critical concern. The number of applications rose by 2% in the last quarter of 2024 compared to 2023, while the number of orders made remained relatively stable, decreasing by less than 1%. Over the year, 30,823 applications were made, and 36,962 orders were granted.
Overall Family Court Activity
Family court cases experienced a 1% decline in 2024 compared to 2023, continuing the downward trend from the 2022 peak. This reduction was primarily driven by fewer matrimonial cases, although financial remedy, public law, and private law cases experienced minor increases. Encouragingly, case closures rose by 5%, with significant improvements in financial remedy, domestic violence, and private law matters.
Private Law Cases: Growth in Applications and Disposals
Private law cases, which typically involve child arrangements and parental disputes, saw a 2% increase in case starts in the last quarter of 2024, bringing the annual total to 51,473 cases. Disposals also increased by 5% year-on-year, reaching 47,170 cases. The timeliness of private law cases improved, with the average time to final order dropping from 45 weeks in 2023 to 42 weeks in 2024.
Legal Representation Trends
Legal representation in private law cases has remained stable following the impact of the LASPO Act. In the final quarter of 2024, 38% of cases had neither party represented, down 2 percentage points from the same period in 2023. Cases where both parties had legal representation stood at 18%, also down by 2 percentage points.
Financial Remedy Cases on the Rise
Financial remedy applications increased by 5% in the last quarter of 2024, with 11,023 applications made. Disposals saw a more significant 29% increase, totalling 12,806 disposal events. Over the year, financial remedy applications rose by 3%, and disposals increased by 15% to 47,164.
While divorce applications have slightly declined, final orders and digital divorces continue to rise. Orders to prevent domestic abuse remain a pressing issue, and private law cases are seeing gradual increases in both applications and resolutions. As family law evolves, these trends provide valuable insights into the efficiency and accessibility of the family court system
Get Expert Advice You can contact us for confidential family law advice. We offer free, no obligation, telephone consultations. If you would like to book an initial phone consultation at no cost, please contact us today. Copyright 2013-2026 Rainscourt Law LLP. All rights reserved.