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Divorce rates continue to decline

On Behalf of | Dec 5, 2014 | Divorce

Many Virginia residents likely believe that approximately half of all marriages end in divorce, but this widely held view is not supported by the latest statistics. The rate at which couples divorced increased sharply in the 1970s and 1980s, but they have since started to fall. However, many news outlets have not picked up on this change in the trend, and newly married couples today are still portrayed as being unlikely to remain together into their golden years.

According to figures published in the New York Times in December 2014, the divorce rate could fall to about one-third if current trends continue. Experts believe that the fall in divorce rates is largely due to couples getting married later in life. Men are now four years older when they marry than they were in the 1950s, and women are six years older when they walk down the aisle.

Social upheaval was often cited as the reason for the surge in the divorce rate observed in the 1970s, and the combined forces of women’s liberation and economic necessity saw millions of American women enter the workforce. However, couples today are far more comfortable with evolving gender roles, and what was once viewed as a major threat to domestic harmony is now seen as a solid foundation for a long-term relationship.

While news about a reduction in the divorce rate may be welcomed by society as a whole, it is likely to provide little comfort to those who have come to the difficult decision that their marriage is beyond repair. An experienced family law attorney may understand the emotional toll that filing for a divorce can take, and they may be able to offer guidance that allows potentially contentious issues to be resolved amicably.

Source: The Huffington Post, “The Truth About The Divorce Rate Is Surprisingly Optimistic“, Brittany Wong, December 02, 2014

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