Are You Surprised to Learn That Divorce Rates Are Dropping? Get the Latest Statistics
Posted on: November 12, 2020
While most people are under the impression that divorce rates have been soaring in recent decades, the truth is that they are actually dropping – but so is the rate of marriage. Keep reading to read some interesting statistics. If you are thinking of divorcing, you can contact Law Office of Michael L. Fell at (949) 585-9055 now for a confidential consultation.
The Most Interesting Stats About Marriage
In 2018, there were 782,038 divorces. That sounds like a lot, but that is fewer than three for every 1,000 people. In 2007, about 50% of Americans over the age of 18 were married, but in 1990 that number was 58%. Not only have fewer people gotten married, but fewer have gotten remarried. In fact, the remarriage rates for women have dropped by about 50% in the last decade and dropped by about 60% for men in the same time period.
Is the Cost of Divorce One of the Reasons Marriage Is the On the Decline?
There are likely a number of factors that go into the fact that more and more people are choosing not to get married, but some statisticians posit that it might be related to the cost of divorce. More young people do not believe that marriage is “essential to living a fulfilling life,” and about one in four parents who live with a child is not married.
The cost of a divorce depends on a variety of factors, including whether it is litigated or not. If a divorce can be settled in mediation, it is much more affordable. If it must be taken to court, the added cost is generally between 300% and 600% more.
Marriage Rates Seem Related to Income
Stats also show that low-income couples are more likely to decide to live together rather than get married. Persons living in poverty are more likely to be single than a middle-class or upper-class person. Interestingly, in heterosexual couples where the husband does not work full-time but the wife is the income-earner, the chance of divorce is 33% than if the husband is the breadwinner.
When couples have an annual income of more than $50,000, their risk of getting divorced goes down 30%. As most people would expect, the percentage of children with middle-class income living with their married parents has gone down from 86% to 75% in the last four decades.
You Are Not a Statistic
While these numbers can be interesting to look at, you are much more than a statistic. When you work with Law Office of Michael L. Fell, we are here to help you through this difficult time. We know that you need personalized advice and we are here to give it. Call us now at (949) 585-9055 to request a free legal consultation.
