Bradie Pell

August's annual 'I do' could be a case of 'I don't' for Sheffield couples
Photo by Sandy Millar on Unsplash.

August’s Annual ‘I do’ Could Be a Case of ‘I don’t’ for Sheffield Couples

Published on
Bradie Pell
Bradie Pell
Partner and Head of Family Law
Graysons Solicitors

August is traditionally the most popular period for marriages, but falling numbers of couples getting hitched, together with the eye-watering costs of the ceremony at a time when many are struggling with household bills, is seeing more and more couples saying ‘I don’t’ and cohabiting instead.

Office for National Statistics (ONS) data confirmed that rates of marriage between men and women had already fallen to a record low in 2019. There were just 18.6 marriages per 1,000 unmarried men and 17.2 per 1,000 unmarried women – the lowest since records began in 1862.

When couples are getting married, it seems the wedding day is changing to keep costs down. A 2022 OnePoll survey commissioned by Gumtree found that a staggering two-thirds of couples planning to wed were scaling back plans to save money in the face of the cost of living crisis.

Everything from getting a friend to take the photos to changing to a date out of peak seasons were methods being used to cut costs.

There’s no doubt, for many couples, marriage isn’t as important as it was, and many will start by living together first.

Statistics show that the number of marriages has been in decline for many years, and the ongoing cost of living crisis has only exacerbated that situation.  But on a more positive note weddings are not the only thing in decline – divorce numbers are also falling at the moment.

Bradie Pell does have a word of warning for couples that do choose to cohabit.

She said: “When couples get married they commit to the sharing of their assets whereas cohabitation does not carry the same commitment.  That is by no means a foolproof option and parties are well advised to consider a formal cohabitation agreement if they are wanting to limit financial exposure in the event of a separation”.

The recent introduction of the ‘no fault’ divorce became the biggest shake-up in marriage laws for years. Despite an initial peak in divorce applications, they now appear to be falling.  Some cite this as another impact of the cost of living crisis.

Bradie Pell always urges couples to ensure they get the correct advice and exhaust all other options before seeking separation advice.

“At the end of the day, nobody wants to see a couple go through the emotional turmoil of a divorce, but if they do have to, obtaining proper legal advice is key. I think it’s very important that people properly understand the process they are entering into and what divorce might look like for them. Sometimes the option of marriage guidance counselling could be the first step.”

More articles by Bradie Pell.

About Bradie Pell

Bradie Pell is head of family law and partner at Graysons Solicitors in Sheffield.

She graduated from the University of Sheffield and qualified as a solicitor in January 2011.  She deals with the whole spectrum of legal issues that affect families, including divorce, separation, finances – with particular emphasis on pensions and property portfolios, injunctions, and matters relating to children.

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Nearly One in Three Believe Prenups Show Mistrust

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Bradie Bell
Bradie Bell
Partner and Head of the Family Law Department
Graysons Solicitors

Almost a third of Britons would refuse to get a prenup, arguing they ‘show a lack of trust’, research suggests.

A survey by Graysons Solicitors found that 30.6% did not agree with getting a prenup before marriage, citing issues of trust, while a further one in eight (12.3%) said it was not a romantic way to begin married life.

Looking at the generational divide, the data shows that more than twice as many people aged 45 to 55 were worried about trust, compared with those between the ages of 18 and 24.

In fact, the practical-minded Generation Z were the most likely to agree with prenups because ‘you never know what the future holds’. Only half as many people aged over 55 gave the same reason.

Younger generations seem to be more aware of the possibility of divorce. Many have grown up with divorced parents and have seen how ugly it can get without a fair plan in place.

A prenup doesn’t have to be unromantic. Having this discussion before getting married can show that the relationship is strong enough to withstand difficult conversations.

While prenups have become more popular in recent years, over a quarter of those (26.6%) who responded to the survey did not know what one was.

A prenuptial agreement sets out what would happen to each spouse’s assets (e.g. property, money, businesses, pension pots) if the relationship were to break down or end in divorce.

More young people than ever before have side-projects and start-up companies they hope to turn into full-time careers one day and may want to protect future earnings.

Many couples are also prioritising their careers before settling down so already have assets to protect before marriage.

If either partner has children outside of the relationship, a prenup can protect their inheritance rights and ensure particular assets are reserved for them.

Clauses can also be inserted into a prenup to prevent one spouse from being responsible for any debt their partner has acquired before the marriage.

Although marriage is a celebration of love, it also comes with several legal consequences which I think more people are taking into consideration before making this commitment.

About Bradie Peel

Bradie is a partner and the head of the family law department at Graysons.  She joined Graysons in January 2016 and became a partner in April 2018. She became a solicitor in 2011.

After undertaking a degree in law and criminology (BA Hons) and her LPC at the University of Sheffield, during which time she also worked as a clerk at a criminal law practice, Bradie started her legal career working as a paralegal in the field of crime in 2006.  

However, during her legal training contract, she also carried out family law work and, finding it interesting, took up a dual role as a police station representative and family lawyer in 2010.  Bradie has specialised solely in family law now for a number of years.

With significant experience in family law, Bradie deals with the whole spectrum of legal issues that affect families, including divorce, separation, finances, injunctions and children matters.  

Bradie is also able to advise on pre and post-nuptial agreements, separation agreements and cohabitation agreements.  Having worked throughout South Yorkshire during her career, her empathy and dedication to her work have led to a loyal following of clients.

Bradie has particular expertise in dealing with the specific issues that arise during complex and high net-worth divorce, including business issues, pensions and international considerations.

Bradie is recommended in the Legal 500 2020.

She is a member of Resolution and, confident and experienced in standing up in court, carries out most of her own advocacy. Bradie is also on the Family Law Panel, which works exclusively with Resolution members.  She is also highly rated on the independent website, VouchedFor.

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Children: The Main Reason Warring Couples in Yorkshire Stay Together

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Bradie Pell
Bradie Pell
Partner and Head of Family Law Department at Graysons

A fifth of unstable marriages in the Yorkshire region are held together due to concerns over children, new research suggests.

In a survey conducted by Graysons Solicitors, 22.3% of respondents said their children would be the main factor holding them back from instigating divorce proceedings, despite a breakdown in their marriage.

This comes after researchers established a link between poor handling of a marriage breakdown on the part of parents and a subsequent increased risk of health disorders in their children — including gastrointestinal and neurological issues.

Fear of losing financial security was also cited as a reason to reconsider ending the marriage, which echoes previous research showing the more time or money that has been invested in a relationship, the more likely a couple is to stay in it.

And for some, the fear of being alone was enough of a deterrent to stop them filing for divorce (7.5%) — a trend also reflected by findings from a psychological study.

But despite recent figures suggesting a downward trend in divorce, a large proportion of respondents said that none of the options offered as reasons to save their marriage — which also included family and peer pressure and concern over the loss of assets — would stop them from instigating divorce proceedings.

What our findings appear to suggest is that, although many of the common reasons for wanting to make a marriage work still stand, couples whose marriage is in crisis might feel divorce is the only option.

However, while wanting to protect your children and finances from the impact of divorce is understandable, neglecting to address issues within an unhappy marriage can often do more harm than good. Research has found that even the brains of children as young as six months can identify and be adversely affected by parental conflict.

We would advise couples to communicate with each other, right from the outset of the relationship.

Small misunderstandings can snowball into serious issues. Tackling them early can save a lot of emotional and financial hardship. Marriage guidance and counselling for couples is available should an independent party be needed to help address issues within the relationship.

If, after exploring all avenues, couples make the difficult decision to divorce, it is important that the lines of communication remain open so that issues such as financial matters and care of children can be addressed as swiftly and amicably as possible.

Survey data

Loss of financial security – 11%
Family and peer pressure – 3.8%
Children – 22.3%
Fear of being alone – 7.5%
Concern over loss of assets – 4.9%
None of the above – 60.1%

About Bradie

Bradie is a partner and the head of the family law department at Graysons.

With significant experience in family law, Bradie deals with the whole spectrum of legal issues that affect families, including divorce, separation, finances, injunctions and children matters.

She is also able to advise on pre and post nuptial agreements, separation agreements and cohabitation agreements.  Having worked throughout South Yorkshire during her career, her empathy and dedication to her work has led to a loyal following of clients.

She is a member of Resolution and, confident and experienced in standing up in court, carries out most of her own advocacy. Bradie is on the Family Law Panel, which works exclusively with Resolution members and is highly rated on the independent website, VouchedFor.

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