The first working day after the New Year was recorded as the D-Day – Divorce Day that is, accounting to more petitions for divorce than at any other time of the year.

The poll conducted by www. TakeLegalAdvice. com of Britain’s top 100 divorce lawyers augurs that the number of clients for connubial difficulties following the Christmas and New Year period will be up 40 per cent this year over last. Many couples raced to get back to their lawyers as soon as they got back to work after the New Year.

“We have already had over 100 couples ask us for phone-backs on January 4 – something which has never happened before”, said a lawyer.

The analysis depicted that 12 couples divorce per 1,000 married people are hit by marriage problems and are on the verge of splitting up, and more than three-quarters of divorce lawyers predict this will be a bumper year for break-ups, says a new survey. The main reason cited is infidelity in relationships.

The gradual recovery from the economic turmoil is being believed as the reason for the rush, as now patience is on a low. Hence many stuck by marital hindrances consider their options.

But a word of warning – up to 50 per cent of those getting divorced regret it, says the research, with women the happiest after divorce.