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Divorce Rate Declining for U.S. Couples
January 8, 2016
Last year, the venerable New York Times published a piece detailing the declining divorce rate in the United States. Despite a mountain of evidence showing that the divorce rate is no longer trending upward, however, many people continue to believe so-called marriage experts who say more than half of all married couples will eventually get divorced. But the reality is that most marriages these days are likely to last.
Moreover, although many news media outlets still offer seemingly breathless reports about the difficulties faced by married couples in this country, the divorce rate actually hit its peak quite some time ago – in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Since then, the divorce rate has gone down at a fairly steady rate. Roughly 70 percent of all couples who got married in the 1990s have gone on to celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary, which represents a five-percent increase over couples who got married in the 1980s.
The divorce rate stopped climbing at a time when more couples started to get married at later ages. In 2004, the average age of men who got married was 27 and the average age of women who decided to tie the knot was 26, both of which were marked increases over the ages of men and women getting married in previous generations. Additionally, some experts have speculated that the increased use of birth control has granted greater freedom to couples who want to get married at a time of their choosing.
Although fewer and fewer American couples have been getting divorced in recent years, this doesn’t mean that all marriages are destined to work out. Sometimes, divorce is the best option for both parties in a marriage. Anyone who is contemplating divorce should make sure to speak with a knowledgeable divorce attorney in order to explore all of their options.
To learn more about the declining divorce rate in the U.S., check out the New York Times article entitled, “The Divorce Surge is Over, but the Myth Lives On.”
If you are considering the possibility of divorce, or if you are already in the middle of the divorce process, you need practical advice from a qualified legal professional. The compassionate family law attorneys at the law firm of Jonathan D. Katz have over 36 years of matrimonial law experience in New Jersey and New York. Contact us today to schedule a consultation about your case.
