A lot is said about divorce, with some estimates indicating up to 50 percent of all married couples end up getting divorced. That is a fact many divorce law attorneys disregard as simply not true and greatly overexaggerated — as are many other “facts” out there. This week, this column will go over some actual facts regarding marriage dissolutions that some Michigan residents may be interested in knowing.
Fact number one is: divorce rates have been at an all-time low. According to a study out of Bowling Green State University, the U.S. divorce rate is lower than it has been in several decades. In 2015, research showed that there were approximately 17 divorces per every 1,000 women. That is certainly far less than the 50 percent that keeps being reported.
Fact number two is: there are certain times of year that divorce rates spike. According to the University of Washington, divorce rates tend to go up in March and again in August. Why? Holidays and vacations are over. When things do not improve over holidays or during vacations, more couples are ready to file and move on.
Finally, fact number three is: post-divorce family dynamic has a greater impact on children than the divorce itself. Now, that’s not saying that divorce is easy on the family — it’s not. However, according to an study posted in the 2016 Marriage and Family Review journal, divorce can end family conflict. Children would rather see their parents happy than married and fighting all of the time.
Some people care about these facts and others could care less. At the end of the day, it does not matter that divorce rates are low or what time of year it is if one’s marriage is not working. The only thing that matters is figuring out what to do about it. Michigan residents can turn to divorce law attorneys to help them go through their options so that they can make the best decisions for themselves and their families.
Source: businessinsider.com, “13 facts about divorce every couple should know before getting married“, Shana Lebowitz, Aug. 18, 2017
