A recent study from demographers at the University of Minnesota found that since the 1980s, the divorce rate has flattened for the most part, and even increased for some age groups. When the researchers factored in the changes in the marriage population (people got married much younger in the ‘80s than they do today, and younger couples have a higher risk for divorce), they found that the age-standardized divorce rate has actually increased by 40% since then.
The rise of divorces is occurring mostly in the baby boomer generation
From 1995–2010, the researchers found that those who are part of the baby boomer demographic are getting divorced at increasingly greater rates. Those who are in their 40s, 50s, and 60s are now getting divorced at rates we haven’t seen since before the ‘80s.
Younger marriages are prospering
On the other hand, the findings of this study also include the observation that divorces among younger Americans are relatively uncommon. This could be caused by the fact that many young people are getting married older than their previous generation counterparts, and many settle for unmarried cohabitation first, so they know more about who they eventually marry before putting rings on their fingers.
Consequences of putting off marriage
While millennials have comparatively lower divorce rates, there are some serious consequences of putting off marriage. Children often result from these cohabiting partnerships, and no matter how you slice it, split-ups are hard on children, even if they are amicable. While getting married might just put off the inevitable split-up to another day, many people take the institution of marriage very seriously because of all the social and cultural pressure it invokes, and put off getting divorced unless absolutely necessary. On the other hand, if a couple just lives together, it’s much easier to split up. It can be as simple as removing one partner’s name from the lease, packing up some boxes, and saying goodbye. But on the other hand, divorce has legal, financial, and social implications that make many couples reconsider before splitting up, often seeing outside counseling or couples’ therapy.
Are you considering getting divorced?
If you’re pondering a divorce, whether you’re a baby boomer, part of Generation X or Y, or in the millennial generation, we at Kendall Gkikas & Mitchell have handled all kinds of divorces. You can come to us with any of your legal questions or concerns, and we’ll be glad to walk you through the whole process. We’ve been in business for 31 years, so there isn’t a question we haven’t heard before. This can often be a very sensitive, challenging time for many people, so we will completely respect your wishes and assist you with every legal detail of this transition. We specialize in family law, so if you have any children, it’s essential to have a lawyer who knows all the legal nuances of working out custody, child support, and other legal matters pertaining to children. Don’t trust your divorce to just anyone—call the family law experts at Kendall Gkikas & Mitchell and you’ll be in excellent hands. Call 909-482-1422 or email info@parents4children.com to schedule an initial consultation today.
