Debenhams launch divorce gift list

The Debenhams department store chain has launched a divorce gift list service.

The department store said it created the divorce gift list service to reflect the increasing popularity of greeting cards, parties and cakes celebrating divorces.

Debenhams head of retail services Peter Moore said in a statement: "A divorce means that one partner will be leaving the marital home and therefore be left without any essentials in their new house.

"Divorcing can be an expensive time and registering for a divorce gift list means that family and friends can help the newly separated begin their new life."

However, someone receiving a card from their friend informing them about their divorce may not be so sympathetic when they see the divorce gift list attached. Items on the Debenhams divorce gift list include all the presents one would usually expect to find on a wedding list such as cookware, crockery and toasters.

Sainsbury's supermarket has also responded to the high divorce rate in Britain and spotted a marital asset that even the most eagle-eyed ancillary relief lawyer may have missed. On the help page if its loyalty reward card, Nectar card, they provide advice on dividing points if a customer gets divorced.

Their advice on the website is "points may be transferred to another account where collectors in a household account are divorced and agree to divide the points balance." However they "may need evidence of how to split the points".