Planning to File Divorce Papers? Here Are Some Facts You Might Like to Know
Are you planning to file divorce papers? Whether you have an uncontested divorce with children in the home or not, you may be interested in knowing more about issues related to divorce in the United States and abroad.
Divorce in the United States
It appears that divorce is quite prevalent in the United States. The divorce rate for a first marriage, for example, is approximately 41%, for a second, 80%, and for a third, 73%.
Interesting to note is that couples are close in age when first choosing to file divorce papers. The mean age of a woman’s first divorce, for example, is 29, while for men, it’s 30.5. However, according to a study conducted by Bowling Green State University, the divorce rate for couples 50 or older has actually doubled in the last 20 years.
Divorce rates vary by region as well. Western states typically have the highest marriage and divorce rates, followed by the South. The Northeast has the lowest marriage and divorce rates, The reasons for these divorces will of course vary.
The Causes and Effects of Divorce in the United States
Marriages are more likely to last longer when people marry at an older age, have a higher education, and earn more money. That said, the top five reasons for divorce in the U.S. include communication problems, infidelity or betrayal, financial problems, as well as abuse and loss of interest. According to U.S. statistics, smoking can also be an issue. if only one partner smokes, for example, a marriage is 75% more likely to end in divorce.
It’s also been shown that an individual’s profession may play a role in whether or not they will be served with divorce papers or initiate the divorce process. For example, salespeople, optometrists, podiatrists, nuclear engineers, and agricultural engineers are all more likely to divorce than people in other professions.
Contrary to what many people may believe, living together before marriage is no longer a strong predictor–or indicator–of divorce. The results from an early 2012 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study have shown this to be the case.
Causes and Effects of Divorce in the European Union and Norway
Just as with the United States, there are a variety of reasons couples from other countries choose to file divorce papers. In November 2012, for example, the European Economic Review released a study that revealed women who clock an extra 12 minutes per week face a 1% increase in the risk of a marital breakdown.
According to a Norwegian study released in August 2012, the divorce rate among couples who divide household chores is twice as high as those in which the wife handles all of the housework.
Infidelity was the focus of a University of Florence study. Its findings showed that infidelity could increase the risk for major cardiovascular issues–including fatal heart attacks.
Children and Divorce
Did you know that each year more than one million people have parents who separate or divorce? While some of these individuals may be adults at the time of the divorce, a staggering amount are not. When considering mediation for child custody, you might want to prepare a list of questions to ask a divorce lawyer.
When children are involved, it’s important to make an effort to find the best child custody attorney–even when your divorce is amicable. This can assist you with ensuring your school-age children have an increased chance to succeed in school. An unfortunate fact is that children of divorced parents are twice as likely to drop out of high school and less likely to attend college.
