Society has long accepted the common adage that half of all marriages will end up in divorce. After all, the divorce rate had increased steadily since the 1970's. However, a recent U.S. Census Bureau report indicates that divorce rates have steadily dropped since 1996. In that year nearly 20 percent of men and women aged 25-29 had been divorced. In 2010, that number had dropped to 14 percent. Also, fewer women aged 30-34 were getting divorced. Overall, 75 percent of all couples married in the 1990's had reached their 10th anniversary.
The report "Number, Timing, and Duration of Marriages and Divorces," attributes a number of factors in its findings. First, people were waiting longer to get married. In 1950, the average age for men who married was 23, while the average woman married at age 20. In 2010, men married at an average age of 28, while women married at age 26.
This suggests that couples were taking more time to finish their education and develop their careers, which would enable them to pool their resources and weather more economic storms. While financial acrimony is still a leading cause for divorce, research suggests that the more educated and affluent couples are, the less likely their marriage will fail.
However, money isn't everything. In fact, during the recent recession more couples lived together during divorce proceedings because they could not afford to move on and create separate households. Some couples are unwilling to compromise the equity they have put into a home, and would rather ride out a difficult housing market to preserve their investment.
The Census Report also indicated that fewer people actually tied the knot. Nearly a third of men and women aged 25-29 had not been married. More people were simply living together, as nearly 10 percent of unmarried couples lived under the same roof. Cohabitation is different today compared to how it was viewed a generation ago. What used to be taboo is now a common experience. In fact, a Cornell University study found that women who married their only live-in partner were 28 percent less likely to divorce compared to women who never cohabited before marriage. Other studies suggest that couples who move in together after becoming engaged are at no greater risk of divorcing.
Still, a number of people separate, creating a number of legal issues to resolve. If you are in the midst of, or contemplating a divorce, contact an experienced family law attorney.
