Most couples never get married with the intention of divorcing. Instead, they see themselves being married to the loves of their lives until their dying day. Sadly, that’s not the reality for every couple. Divorce is the outcome of many marriages, with divorce statistics painting a sobering picture of what often happens when couples say, ‘I do.’
Couples Spend an Average of $7,000 to Divorce
When you combine lives with another person, merging finances, sharing assets, and making shared financial decisions makes sense. As much as it makes sense, it can mean that separating them at the dissolution of a marriage can be complex. The average couple will spend approximately $7,000 finalizing a divorce.
Fortunately, the average Philadelphia divorce lawyer can guide you through the process. In most situations, legal professionals can complete a simple divorce in just three months, but more complicated and contested divorces can take one year or longer.
Divorce Rates Increase With Marriages
Divorce rates among people who have been married once are already high enough, with 2.5 in every 1,000 people getting divorced. However, those numbers rise even more for people who get married for a second and third time. As many as 60% of second marriages end in divorce, with a 10% increased chance in people marrying for a third time.
The Divorce Rate Has Decreased
Divorce trends will always change, but there has undoubtedly been a great deal of movement since 2001. Divorce rates have decreased in the last 20 years from 4.0 per 1,000 population to just 2.5. There were 944,000 divorces and annulments in 2000 compared to 689,308 in 2021. However, in that same timeframe, there were also fewer marriages. The year 2000 saw 8.2 per 1,000 population tie the knot compared to 6.00 in 2021.
Some Divorced Couples Remarry
Divorce spells the end of an era and the opportunity for couples to move on and start again. However, that’s not the case for every divorced couple. At least 6% of divorced couples will rekindle their romance, get back together, and remarry. When they do, they stand an excellent chance of staying together.
Dr. Nancy Kalish researched ex-partners who reconnected after a five-year break. In her research of 1,000 respondents, she discovered that 72% of those who remarried each other stayed together.
The Majority of Divorcing Couples Own Their Homes
Divorce lawyers often work with couples trying to settle their major assets. Property settlement is a significant issue affecting 53.4% of divorcing couples. How property distribution is managed can depend on where you live. Most states operate under the equitable division rule, but judges often consider unique circumstances to ensure a fair split.
This can mean that even though a state has a 50/50 community property split, judges can distribute assets unequally if it means the distribution is equitable. For example, suppose one person has a job to support the family financially while the other stays home to care for the family. In that case, the judge might deviate from the 50/50 asset and liability split.
Divorce trends in the United States are ever-changing. Awareness of these common trends might help you make well-informed decisions for your own marriage or divorce.
