A LAW firm has revealed it has seen a huge increase in divorce instructions during the corornavirus pandemic.

Napthens, which has a practice in Kendal, saw a 47 per cent increase in new divorce cases opened in September when compared with September 2019.

Helen Lucking, partner and head of family at Napthens, said: “The pandemic has created extra stresses and pressures for every family, and unfortunately for some that extra strain has been too much for their relationship.

“Being in an unhappy marriage during lockdown has clearly led to a lot of couples reassessing their life situation. It seems many couples are looking to act now to complete a separation and make a new start.

“With the postponement of hundreds of weddings this year, 2020 could become the first year ever where the number of divorces outstrips new marriages.”

According to Napthens the rise has created a backlog in the courts, with 90 per cent of hearings now being heard remotely over video or telephone.