It has long been said that half of all marriages end in divorce in the United States. Also, people commonly hold the belief that the divorce rate is steadily rising in Pennsylvania and across the rest of the United States. However, looking at the recent data suggests that these beliefs may be no more than myths.
It turns out that approximately 70 percent of couples that married during the 1990s will stay together at least 15 years, which is an increase from approximately 65 percent for those who married in the 1970s and during the 1980s. This statistic excludes married couples in which one spouse died before their 15-year anniversary. Also, couples that marry during the 2000s are continuing the downward trend in divorce rates.
There are various factors that may account for the drop in the divorce rate. Some believe that people are waiting until later in life to marry, which decreases the chance of divorce. Use of birth control has also played a role in keeping divorce rates low, according to many commentators. However, divorce rates among less educated people still remain high with rates close to the peak levels of the past.
On the other hand, despite the drop in divorce rates over the past few decades, there are still many couples in Pennsylvania that will want to file for divorce. Therefore, understanding the legal implications of marriage and divorce is important for couples that may be thinking of splitting up. These rules regulate how various aspects of the divorce are settled. This can include alimony, property division and child support payments.
Source: clarionledger.com, “NYT: Divorce rate has been declining since 90s“, Sam R. Hall, Dec. 2, 2014
