However, the most important factor involved in the higher divorce rates in the latter quarter of the century has been the introduction of the Family Law Act 1975 which came into operation on 5 January 1976. Following the implementation of this law, there was a large increase in the divorce rate in 1976. The rate then declined until 1979 as the backlog of applications was cleared.
Remarriages following divorce have the highest risk of divorce.
The probability of divorce is slightly lower for first marriages and much lower for remarriages following widowhood. Table 5.43 brings together summary measures of divorces for Census years between 1901 and 1986, and individual years between 1990 and 1999.