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Young adults may be driving the divorce rate down

On Behalf of | Jun 27, 2019 | Divorce, Firm News |

Some people in Gulfport may have heard the often-cited axiom that almost half of all marriages will end in divorce. However, the divorce rate has gone down 18% from 2008 to 2016. And, part of this decline could be due to those age 45 or younger.

There are several reasons why young adults may be less apt to divorce. Many choose to marry at a later age than their older counterparts did. Young adults want to establish their careers and be financially stable before tying the knot. They also may be more apt to want to enter a marriage that is based on love, friendship and the sharing of interests, instead of feeling pressured by society.

In contrast, however, is a rise in the divorce rate of those age 50 and up. In what has been dubbed a “gray divorce,” one in 10 of those age 50 and older divorced in 1990. By 2010, almost 25 percent of those age 50 and older have divorced. Some older adults simply grow apart as they age, and women, particularly, may have the financial independence in their old age to support themselves rather than staying in an unhappy marriage.

In the end, whether a person is a young adult or an older adult, divorce is losing its negative stigma. This is important, as many people now have the ability to settle their issues through out-of-court negotiations, rather than having to go through a full trial. When people have more of a say in how their divorce issues are handled, they may be more satisfied with the outcome of their divorce. Attorneys can help their clients negotiate a divorce settlement, and they can represent their clients in court if negotiations fail.