Family solicitors reported a surge in divorce enquiries before Christmas and have predicted that the number of divorces will rocket in 2010, with January likely to be the busiest month.

The rush comes as London firm Lloyd Platt & Co markets a new ‘divorce voucher’ scheme for separating couples.

Mark Keenan, managing director of Divorce Online, said he saw a 30% increase in new clients in December, which was ‘unusual’. He predicts that the divorce rate will increase by 2% this year due to the recession, which has put added pressure on struggling couples.

Keenan said his company fielded enquiries from more than 100 couples on 4 January, the first working day after the New Year, which has become known as ‘Divorce Day’.

‘The rise in property prices may have an impact on divorce rates as couples who have decided to separate feel more confident about selling their homes and splitting their equity,’ he said.

Craig Holt, chief executive at solicitors marketing organisation QualitySolicitors.com, said his member firms were ‘bracing themselves’ for double the usual monthly volume of enquiries, and predicted a 23% rise in work on this time last year.

He said the period after Christmas was traditionally the busiest time of year for divorce solicitors, but added: ‘We expect unparalleled levels in January as a number of people who have been holding fire now take the hard decision to seek legal advice to pursue a divorce.’

Meanwhile Lloyd Platt & Co, which saw a 20-30% rise in enquires before Christmas, launched a ‘divorce voucher’ last month. The gift voucher can be used to purchase legal services at the firm and in some cases has been bought by an unhappy spouse and presented to their partner as an indication that they are seeking a divorce.

Vanessa Lloyd Platt, senior partner at Lloyd Platt & Co, said the firm had sold 60 vouchers and had already made appointments for some people who had received them.

‘The increase is directly referable to the property market – as that has started to move, so have people,’ said Lloyd Platt.