Recession-hit Shanghai Sees Drop in Divorce Cases

While the current economic crises has made many companies to declare themselves broke, families in Shanghai are getting closer together and are shying away from filing a divorce, revealed authorities.

According to officials at the Shanghai Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau, 36,811 couples filed for divorce at the city's civil affairs department in 2008, which is 284 less than in 2007.

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In 2006, the number was 37,395, following a continuous increase since 1978 when 422 couples filed for divorce, reports the China Daily.

"People tend to look for stable relationships and cherish their families more during economic turmoil," said Zhou Jixiang, an official with the bureau.

Tang Jian'an, a divorce lawyer, says that he is seeing fewer clients, especially those who are rich and successful.

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"They, mainly men, have to focus more on saving their businesses and have no time to tend to family crises. Even when they do, they will try to reach an agreement on property, children and support issues, because filing for a divorce takes time and they just don't have that much time for that," he said.

Jia Mingjun, another divorce lawyer in Shanghai, has reported a similar trend.

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Fan Wenjia, a lawyer in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, said that some couples have come to him for divorce, but backed out because of the cost, according to the Yangtze Evening News.

"When I told them how much more they need to pay for children or a loan every month, and how much they need to pay for the divorce, they withdrew the decision," he said.

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Source-ANI
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