It seems as if, starting in the 1990s the divorce rate in the United States started trending downward, something that seems to hold true even to this day. There are many theories that support this trend, one of them holds that it may be due to millennials’ attitude towards marriage. Why? Because young people seem to be doing things differently, as well as some Gen Xers. They are opting to wait to get married until they have:
- Finished their education
- Established themselves in their careers
- Sound finances
Looking at the data this way may be a little misleading. It could actually be that there are fewer divorces simply because fewer people are choosing to get married.
What about the older generation?
People in their 60s or 70s seem to have gotten married young, divorced later in life, and embark upon a second relationship later in life. Although the divorce rate among this group seems to have stabilized, they were responsible for the increase in divorces in the first place.
What states show the greatest decrease in the divorce rate?
Iowa and Hawaii lead the trend in fewer divorces in the whole country. Figures suggest that as few as 20 percent of marriages in those areas end up in divorce.
What has happened nationwide?
Since the year 2000, the CDC has been keeping track of numbers regarding marriage and divorce in the United States. After about two decades of compiling these statistics, they report that there has been a decline in marriages from around 8.2 to 6.9 per 1,000 citizens. Apparently, the divorce rate has also decreased. Out of some 233 million citizens in 2000, 944,000 divorces were recorded. By the year 2016, the number had dropped to 827,000 per 258 million citizens.
What do couples cite as their number one reason for getting a divorce?
Several studies confirm that money problems are the main reason why couples get a divorce. And this becomes even more problematic when, through the divorce decree, families face even harsher financial and emotional troubles.
Money troubles arise mainly because:
- Many couples do not communicate openly about their financial situation until it’s too late
- Couples have been unable to build a financial reserve for unexpected expenses
- One or both parties within the couple keep money secrets
- Spouses have different values as to how or on what to spend their money
- Couples have different approaches to financial planning and saving
What has been the situation in Utah?
As far as marriage rates, Utah has seen an increase of 8.4 percent between 2009 and 2018 while divorce rates have jumped up by 2.7 percent. An interesting study, however, suggests that not all divorces in the state end in anger and slammed doors. It seems that 12 percent of those divorcing in Utah have included former spouses in their wills, with figures revealing a 79 percent rate of amicable divorces among study respondents.
Do you need a divorce attorney in Utah?
As Utah has seen a spike in divorce cases, it seems that the coronavirus pandemic has not helped matters in this area. If you need helpful advice at this time from an experienced Utah attorney, make an appointment today to start the process, and finally, find the resolution you seek.
