Useful Facts about Divorce

60% of marriages in the United States end in divorce. 67 to 75% of all divorces are initiated by the female partner: 74 to 80% of unilateral (non-mutual) divorces. (Percentages vary only slightly from the US to Australia to Germany and from study to study.)

No gender difference in the number of divorce filings appears for grounds of violence (6% of filings), "exploitation" (one contributing more than receiving - 20%), or adultery. "The question of custody absolutely swamps all the other variables. Children are the most important asset in a marriage, and the partner who expects to get sole custody is by far the most likely to file for divorce."

Women are much more willing to divorce because they rarely fear losing custody of the children. Usually it gives them control over them. "If you remove that distortion, it's apt to change the way men and women relate to each other and to their kids. Fathers are likely to spend more time with kids if they can expect to still see them after the divorce is final. Women will be more likely to see men as parenting partners, and less likely to use divorce as a power play."

U.S. states with high levels of joint custody (> 30% of divorces) have significantly lower divorce rates four years later. Their four-year decline in divorce rates is double that of states with medium levels of joint custody arrangements (10 - 30%), and over four times that of states having low levels of joint custody (< 10%).

Facts to Consider if things aren't Well with You and Your Spouse

• Half of marriages in the United States will end in divorce (1997).

• Divorce is higher when a marriage is preceded by a premarital pregnancy or out-of-wedlock birth

• Divorce goes down during economic hardship for a couple

• Couples who live together prior to marriage experience greater dissatisfaction afterwards

• Due to early divorce and the decreased likelihood today of staying married “for the sake of the children,” younger children are more and more likely to be affected.

• 50% of all children from divorced families are more likely to have difficulties

• Children may also be very damaged by their parent’s bad marriage; their school work may suffer, as well as self-esteem, increased anger, depression, and self-blame, conflicts with authority, and their own ability to have a good marriage (role modeling and family systems)

• About 38% of all couples divorce within four years of marriage; this probably represents for many a breakdown in the marriage and separation within the first two years.

• A divorce lawyer once said that five years after a divorce many clients have told him, “If I’d only known how hard divorce is, I would have tried harder the first time.”

• Divorce is likely to be followed by remarriage (5 of 6 men remarry within 1-3 years; 3 out of 4 divorced women remarry; women stay single 5 years or more before remarriage; many decide they won’t marry again), but unless the issues of the previous marriage are dealt with problems will continue.

Facts about Children of Divorce

Children with divorced parents are more likely to exhibit signs of early disengagement from school than children from intact families.  One possible reason for lower academic achievement is reduced income in the custodial parent's home.

 

For example, income differences account for between 30 and 50 percent of the overall difference in high school graduation rates among children from two parent and single parent households.    Children who move frequently do not receive specialized educational services, nor do they receive the individual attention they may need from teachers in order to identify gaps in their knowledge.

The psychological effect of divorce on children fades within three years but academic performance continues to decline.  Children from divorced families have a high risk of becoming divorced.

Divorce related terms

Child Support
An amount of money under a court or administrative order that is due and owed by the non-custodial parent for the support of the parent's child(ren).

Divorce agreement
A divorce agreement spells out the terms of the divorce and the relationship between the two spouses after the divorce. These agreements usually cover property division, child custody and child plans, debt division, spousal support, and any other relevant issues related to the divorce.

Temporary alimony
A type of alimony payment that is made to one spouse pending separation or divorce proceedings.

Supervised visitation
A form of visitation in which an adult supervisor must be present when the child is visiting with the non-custodial parent.

Domestic Violence Petition
This form serves as your application for a protective order. After obtaining this from the clerk of court, then completing and returning, it will be reviewed by a judge.

Custodial parent
The parent who has physical custody of the children.

Mediation
A non-adversarial process in which a neutral third party acts to encourage and help disputing parties reach a mutually acceptable agreement. May not be a good option when domestic violence is present.

Abandonment
When a parent leaves a child without enough care, supervision, support, or parental contact for an excessive period of time.

Residual Physical Custodial Rights
A custody agreement when one parent is awarded visitation by a pre-arranged schedule worked out between the parents or the courts.

Uncontested Divorce
A divorce where both parties are able to make a mutually agreed-upon arrangement.

If you have questions about divorce or other areas of family law, get peace of mind today.  Call us now at (877) 699-6841, email bill@dothandivorce.com, or fill out the contact form at left.