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While divorce papers are filed throughout the year, the largest number of these occur during February. Given that this the month when many couples celebrate their love on St. Valentine’s Day, this is an obvious point of irony.
Causes for Divorce
While every couple has their own unique reasons for divorcing, there are a variety of common factors that lead to this decision:
- Communication issues
- Infidelity or betrayal
- Financial issues
- Abuse
- Loss of interest
When infidelity occurs, for example, a University of Florence study discovered that the risk for cardiovascular events was higher, such as fatal heart attacks.
A person’s occupation or career may also be a contributing factor. When either 1 or both spouses are in these professions, they may have an increased chance of divorce:
- Agricultural engineers
- Nuclear engineers
- Optometrists
- Podiatrists
- Salespeople
Statistics also show that a marriage is 75% more likely to dissolve when 1 of the partners smokes. There is also a 5% chance of divorce when the only child produced is a daughter.
American and European Marriage and Divorce Rates
The highest marriage and divorce rates are in the Western United States. The next highest are in the South, while the Northeast has the lowest rates.
It’s interesting to note that more couples 50 years and older are choosing to divorce, according to a Bowling Green State University study. Over the past 20 years, they found that these rates have actually doubled.
Women are usually 29 years old when they first divorce, while men tend to be 30.5 years old. In the United States, first marriages have a 41% divorce rate, and usually last 8 years Second marriages have a 60% divorce rate, while third marriages have a 73% divorce rate.
In August 2012, a Norwegian study showed that divorce rates are twice as high when couples divide household chores rather than when the wife handles these. The European Economic Review released a study in November 2012 that showed when women work an extra 12 minutes a week, there is a 1% increased risk of divorce.
The Effects of Divorce
While some individuals are able to handle the aftermath of divorce without significant issues arising, others are not as fortunate. When considering that over a million people have parents that separate and/or divorce in the United States, this can create emotional and other issues. In addition to being twice as likely to drop out of high school, children with divorced parents are also less apt to apply to college.
The University of Cincinnati released a study in August 2012 that showed men are more likely to develop an alcohol issue following divorce. Women appear less likely to have this issue.
Why Some Marriages Succeed
It used to be that living together before marriage indicated an inevitable divorce. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a study in 2012 showed this was not the case. When people marry when they’re older, possess advanced degrees, and are more financially stable, their marriages tend to last longer.
What is Contested Divorce versus What is Uncontested Divorce?
If you’re planning to obtain a divorce, then you probably have a list of questions to ask your divorce lawyer. While you may be familiar with contested divorces, it’s possible you’re asking the question, “What is uncontested divorce?”
Basically, a contested divorce is where the divorce is not agreed to by both parties. Just a few of the reasons this might occur include when the contesting party still has feelings for the other party, when they will be in poor financial circumstances, and/or when child custody issues are involved.
An uncontested divorce, however, is where both parties agree. While there may still be issues to work out, such as property distribution, child custody, child support, child visitation, and possibly alimony, these are usually resolved with the benefit of legal counsel.
When you have an initial consultation with a divorce attorney, you will be able to ask them, “What is uncontested divorce?” At that time, they will outline the conditions that apply. If you have additional questions, such as, “What is uncontested divorce with children?” they will be able to explain this further.
From the time divorce papers are filed, the overall proceedings usually last a year in the United States. This will vary, of course, based on a variety of factors.
