According to a recent report, approximately 800,000 couples in the United States, including many residing in New York, file to dissolve their marriages every year. This is a pretty significant number, though, it is believed to be lower than it has been in previous years. Many do still wonder, why is it that the divorce rate is still so high?
It is still believed that about half of all marriages end in divorce. Nearly two-thirds of those divorces will be initiated by women. Researchers say that the changing roles of men and women in the home and in the workplace are behind this.
According to a survey of adults who divorced in the 1980s and 1990s — when divorce rates were at an all time high — the top reasons to leave marriages included infidelity, incompatibility, drug and/or alcohol abuse and falling out of love. These reasons to divorce are still pretty true today. However, then and now, there are many couples who, despite the desire to divorce, stay or stayed together — usually for financial reasons. The financial ability to leave a marriage is changing, though, as more women are taking greater roles in the workforce, making it easier for them to move on if desired.
Why couples divorce is personal to every individual circumstance. No matter the reason to decide to proceed with this process, when ready, each spouse can seek legal assistance to get through it as swiftly and smoothly as possible. New York residents can turn to experienced family law attorneys that understand that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to finalizing the dissolution of marriage. With the right help, a fair and balanced settlement based on a divorcing couple’s unique situation can be achieved.
Source: Bloomberg, “What We Know About Why Couples Get Divorced”, Ben Steverman, Sept. 20, 2016