According to an article in Forbes, the oft-quoted statistic that half of all marriages end in divorce requires a bit of context.
Overall, this rate may be a good estimate. However, with respect to first-time marriages, about 43% of them, significantly less than half, end in a divorce. On the other hand, second and third marriages fail at the rate of 60% and 73%, respectively.
Still, Michiganders getting married for the first time have over a 4 out of 10 chance and seeing their marriage end in divorce.
On the other hand, the rate of divorce has been steadily falling at least since 2000. However, people are also getting married both less frequently and when they are older. For example, on average, men are marrying for the first time shortly after they turn 30.
Do these recent statistics reveal anything about hot button legal issues?
From a legal perspective, the recent statistics can at least give West Michigan residents a clue as to what issues they might see in a divorce.
- Most people who are divorcing own their own home. A common issue in a divorce case is who will stay in the family home, if anyone. Likewise, the couple will have to decide how to divide the spouses’ fair share of any equity in the home and who will pay any mortgage.
- Gray divorce, that is, divorce among people over 55, is on the rise. Financial security as one enters retirement is an important issue in these divorces. Women especially see their financial security suffer following a gray divorce, but the process can hit the pocketbooks of men at a very inconvenient time in life as well.
- Unfortunately, about 1 in 4 divorces end in part because of domestic violence. In cases involving domestic violence, a victim will need to be careful to protect their own safety as well as the safety of any minor children. Thankfully, there are options for divorce that take these important safety concerns into consideration.
The statistics show that many challenging and complicated issues involving divorce may be changing in some respects, but they are not disappearing. A Michigan resident in this situation should be aware of their legal options and alternatives. To learn more about what may be involved in your matter, contact our office for a consultation.