How long does the average marriage last before divorce?

The median duration of opposite-sex marriages that ended in divorce in 2023 was 12.7 years, the longest median duration ever recorded, according to ONS. The most common duration was 6 years. And the 1998 cohort, people who married in their late 20s, saw 40.7% divorced by their 25th anniversary.

This matters because by the time most couples reach separation, they've accumulated shared assets, pension pots, property equity, and often children. The financial complexity is substantial. The decisions made at that point have lifelong consequences.

The case for establishing a clear financial agreement early, not when divorce is on the horizon, but when the relationship is strong, is that it is far easier to agree terms from a position of goodwill than from one of conflict. A private financial agreement, renewed annually, captures your financial intentions at each stage of your shared life. Not as a pessimistic act, but as a practical one.