# Grey divorce trends rise after 20 years

> 26% of English and Welsh divorces in 2025 involved couples married 20+ years.
- Title: Grey divorce trends rise after 20 years · MadeForMums
- Summary: 26% of English and Welsh divorces in 2025 involved couples married 20+ years. 26% of divorces in England and Wales in 2025 followed 20+ years of marriage, up…
- Keywords: grey divorce, england, wales, divorce, marriage, children, financial factors, Grey, trends, rise, years, MadeForMums
- Source: MadeForMums — https://madeformums.com/news/family-news/grey-divorce-is-becoming-more-common-but-why-are-more-couples-are-divorcing-after-20-years-of-marriage
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: grey divorce, england, wales, divorce, marriage, children, financial factors
## Divorce after 20 years
26% of opposite-sex divorces in England and Wales in 2025 involved couples married 20+ years.
## Longer marriage trend
26% of divorces in 2025 followed 20+ years of marriage, up from 23% after 5-9 years.
## Children leaving home
Children growing up and leaving home changes family dynamics for couples.
## Empty-nest syndrome
Parents stay together for children but face relationship issues after children leave home.

> Parents stay together for the sake of the children. Often empty-nest syndrome is the big reveal that there’s nothing really that’s keeping the couple together once their shared parenting has gone.
## Financial factors
Couples may find separation more affordable after accumulating wealth.
## Legal aid cuts
Legal aid for family matters cut in 2013 makes divorce more expensive.
## High-profile separations
Tess Daly and Vernon Kay split after 22 years of marriage.

> Tess Daly and Vernon Kay announced their separation earlier this year after 22 years of marriage
## Key takeaway

26% of divorces in England and Wales in 2025 followed 20+ years of marriage, up from 23% after 5-9 years.