- Financial confidence gap: 65% of midlife women fear for their finances post-divorce, yet nine in 10 (91%) fail to seek financial advice
- Divorce drivers: over a quarter of divorced midlife women (27%) cite abuse or violence as the cause, with divorced women reporting double the rates of controlling behaviour
- Support shortfall: 57% say they lacked financial, emotional or social support during divorce
A landmark report on the experiences of midlife women has revealed stark differences in attitudes towards, and experiences of, divorce compared with previous generations – highlighting an alarming lack of financial confidence and support among this group of women. Beyond the Break, a report compiled by NOON for law firm Mishcon de Reya and Julius Baer International, the UK-based wealth manager which forms part of Julius Baer Group, has found that midlife women going through separation consider divorce to be a primarily legal process and are unprepared for the financial components they encounter during the process.
Key findings:
- Financial vulnerability and disempowerment are rife among midlife women: Divorcing women recognise the need to obtain specialist legal advice – 59% engage a divorce lawyer or solicitor - yet nine in 10 (91%) fail seek the help of financial advisors; this was true even for high-net-worth women with assets over £1 million. This lack of uptake of professional advice is surprising since only 29% of the women understood their financial situation in advance of the divorce and 65% report concerns about their financial well-being. Additionally, a third of women (33%) said financial security in old age was one of the most appealing factors for them, meaning there is a discrepancy between women's anxiety around being financially secure and their reluctance to seek financial advice.
- Reasons for divorce: Over a quarter (27%) of women reported that their marriage broke down due to abuse or domestic violence and compared with non-divorced women, divorced women reported markedly higher incidences of controlling behaviour from a partner (47% vs 23%), domestic violence (38% vs 18%) and mental abuse (38% vs 20%). This held true across all socio-economic groups. A further quarter (23%) cited growing apart or falling out of love as causing the split, while fewer than a third (28%) of women said the cause of the end of the marriage was their spouse having an affair or leaving for another partner.
- There is a need for a “Wraparound Divorce Team”: 57% of women who divorced said they did not get the support they needed beyond legal advice such as financial, emotional and social support.
- Many divorced women report being “happier than they have ever been”: A third (31%) of divorced women said that they were the happiest they had ever been, with many citing their new freedom, confidence, independence and optimism as contributing to this. One woman responded: “The divorce was one of the hardest things I have ever done, but post-divorce I am suddenly independent, I can follow my own dreams, I am empowered, independent, optimistic and grateful.”
Sandra Davis, Partner in the Family law team at Mishcon de Reya, said: “In my day-to-day work with women divorcing in midlife I see that many of the myths and narratives in our culture about them and their experience are no longer fit for purpose. This important research has found that in 2025, women in midlife, who are likely to live into their late eighties and nineties, are taking control of the rest of their lives. This means that if a marriage is no longer serving them, is abusive or just not where they want to be for their next forty or fifty years, midlife women are voting with their feet. There is no longer a stigma around divorce for these women, or any sense that divorcing is a failure.
“But this emotional realisation and process is only one aspect of a divorce. Our research shows a need for better holistic support for divorcing women. They are prepared to learn new things but often do not know where to turn to get the professional, emotional and financial support they need.
“There is a need for professionals who will lean into the real and raw experience of this moment in these women’s lives, and a requirement for legal and non-legal professionals who have strong emotional intelligence as it's often a two-year process. Women going through divorce can and should be served in a better, more holistic way at this point of life.”
Patricia Astley, Relationship Manager at Julius Baer International, added: “The results of our report show that many midlife women are navigating profound financial and emotional crossroads, often without the specialist support they need. Taking sound financial advice early in the process is absolutely critical, so there is a real opportunity for the wealth management industry to better serve this demographic of women.
“Wealth Managers and Financial Planners should become better attuned to women’s needs, not only during divorce and its aftermath, but throughout all stages of life. As well as looking for professionals who can de-mystify financial terminology and processes, midlife women are seeking compassionate and trustworthy advisors who can communicate clearly and offer practical advice. In doing so, we can empower women to reclaim their financial agency.”