In both New York and Mississippi, a spouse can sue a third party for causing the “marital split” under the law of “alienation of affection.”[12] Interestingly, in Wichita, Kansas, a man’s mistreatment of his mother-in-law cannot be used as grounds for a divorce.[12] In a case that highlights the “risk of divorce,” an Italian man brought his mother along on his honeymoon in 2012, leading his new bride to ask for a “divorce” just three weeks later.[12]
Only two U.S Presidents, Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump, have experienced a “divorce.”[16] The record for the world’s oldest divorcées is held by a 99-year-old Italian man and his 96-year-old ex-wife. He divorced her after 60 years of being “married,” when he discovered love letters she had written to her lover in the 1940s. They got “married” in 1934 and divorced in 2011.[12]
In a peculiar case, a woman asked for a “divorce” from her husband in 2008 after his prosthetic penis extension broke off during sex.[12] In America, the “divorce rate” peaked at 50% in the 1980s. While the national “divorce rate” has declined, a “first marriage” is still between 40-50% likely to “end in divorce.”[2] According to U.S. “divorce statistics,” if one spouse smokes, a marriage is 75% more likely to “end in divorce.”[14]
Research shows that “married” couples in US Republican states are 27% more likely to “get divorced” than couples in US Democratic states. This is because couples in Republican states have historically “married” at a younger “average age” than their Democratic counterparts.[9] In ancient Chaldea, a man could get a “divorce” by writing a letter to his wife’s father or by saying “Thou are not my wife.” However, if the wife ever said, “Thou are not my husband,” she would be immediately drowned.[6]
The most commonly cited “divorce statistic” states that one in every four families will face “divorce.” More than one million “children” have “parents” who separate or “divorce” each year in the U.S.[8] As Margaret Atwood once said, “A divorce is like an amputation: you survive it, but there’s less of you.”
In some Native American tribes, if a man left his wife without a serious reason, he was not allowed to remain a member of the tribe. Many tribes did not allow a man to separate from his wife if they had “children” together. The Aztecs were never permitted to “divorce.”[6] In the Aleutian Islands, if a man grew tired of his wife, he would barter her for food or clothes.[6]
According to U.S. “divorce statistics,” if there is a daughter and no son in a “marriage,” the union is 5% more likely to “end.”[14] The history of “divorce” is in large part a history of abandoning Catholic teaching on “marriage” as developed in the 13th century. Simply put, the Catholic Church’s position stated that “divorce” was forbidden because a validly contracted Christian “marriage” could be dissolved only by the death of a husband or wife.[4]
While historically the Catholic Church forbade “divorce,” the Pauline Privilege (found in 1 Cor. 7:15) states that remarriage by a Christian is allowed if a Christian spouse had been deserted by his or her non-Christian spouse. A second potential exception is if a “marriage” had not been sexually consummated and either the husband or wife wanted to enter a religious order. In both of these instances, “divorce” may be granted in “favor of the faith.”[4]
Couples with “children” have a slightly lower “divorce rate” than couples without children.[8] While the Roman Catholic Church historically banned “divorce,” Jewish and Roman law at the beginning of the Christian era were more lenient. Jewish law gave the husband extensive authority to “divorce” his wife if she “found no favor in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her.” Jewish law also gave women more rights in initiating “divorce.”[4]
In the Philippines, “divorce” is illegal. Any “divorce” that is conducted outside the country is not recognized within the Philippines.[12] Burgundian law declared that a woman who tried to “divorce” her husband should be smothered in a mire.[6] “Divorce” is illegal in Malta, a country that is controlled by the Vatican. It is one of the three countries in the world (all Catholic) where “divorce” is illegal, even if the “marriage” is not a Catholic “marriage.”[7]
The 5th Texas Court of Appeals recently ruled that “married same-sex couples” who legally “marry” in other states cannot “divorce” in Texas.[2] In ancient Rome, a couple could “divorce” just by declaring their intent not to live together in front of seven witnesses. “Divorce” was common, especially in the upper classes, and a “divorced” woman could receive her dowry back in full. She could also regain her independence upon a “divorce.” However, a woman found guilty of adultery would receive just half of her dowry. The law did not recognize adultery by husbands.[6]
In America, the “divorce rate” for a first “marriage” is around 41%. The “divorce rate” for a second “marriage” is 60%. The “divorce rate” for a third “marriage” is 73%.[9] According to the Defense Department, the “divorce rate” of military couples rose from 2.6% in 2001 to 3.7% in 2011. The Air Force has the highest “rate of divorce” out of all the services.[3]
The average length of “divorce proceedings” in the United States is 1 year.[8] The mean age of a woman for a first “divorce” is 29 years old. For males in a first “marriage,” it is 30.5. For a second “marriage,” the mean age for women is 37 years. For men in a second “marriage,” it is 39.3 years.[9] Women on average wait 3.1 years to remarry after a “divorce.” Men wait 3.3 years.[9]
The “divorce rate” for couples over 65 years old has doubled since 1980.[8] Western states typically have the highest “marriage and divorce rates,” followed by the South. The Northeast has the lowest “marriage and divorce rates.”[9] According to a recent study, dancers and choreographers reported the highest “divorce rates” (43.1%), followed by bartenders (38.4%), and massage therapists (38.2%). Rounding out the top 10 were casino workers, telephone operators, nurses, and home health aides.[10]
According to 2012 U.S. Census Bureau statistics, New Jersey has the lowest “divorce rate.” New York, Connecticut, Delaware, and Massachusetts round out the top five lowest rates. The East coast in general has a “divorce rate” of less than 12%.[9] According to 2012 U.S. Census Bureau statistics, Nevada has the highest “rate of divorce” at 14.7%. Wyoming, Florida, Kentucky, and Tennessee all have “rates of divorce” over 13.%.[9]
“Marriages” are more likely to last longer when people “marry” at an older age, have a higher education, and earn more money.[4] Among the occupations with the lowest “divorce rates” are agricultural engineers, salespeople, nuclear engineers, optometrists, clergy, and podiatrists.[10] A “marriage” in which a woman is two or more years older than her husband is 53% more likely to “end in divorce” than if the husband were three or more years older or only one year younger.[14]
Women who have been diagnosed with cervical cancer are more likely to “divorce,” by 40%. If a man is diagnosed with testicular cancer, the “marriage” is 20% more likely to “divorce.” On contrast, breast cancer survivors are 8% less likely to “divorce” than women who have not had breast cancer.[14] Experts note that if a spouse has gained more than 20% of his or her body weight, “divorce” is more likely.[15] Having twins or triplets increases the risk of “divorce” by 17%.[8]
In Japan, visitors can write their “divorce wishes” on a piece of paper and flush them down the toilet in the Mantokuji Temple. The temple was traditionally a refuge for women seeking to escape an unhappy “marriage.”[7] After the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the country experienced an increase of “divorces” and “divorce ceremonies.”[7] In China, when couples of the Jing people “divorce,” they throw away the pen and ink stone used to sign the “divorce papers” because they believe they contain bad luck.[7]
Islam has traditionally allowed “divorce,” which is referred to as talaq. However, it is considered the worst of all lawful things in the sight of Allah. The “rates of divorce” were higher in the medieval Islamic world and Ottoman Empire than they are in the modern Middle East, which typically has low “rates of divorce.”[6]
The top five reasons for “divorce” in the U.S. include 1) communication problems; 2) infidelity or betrayal; 3) financial problems; 4) psychological, emotional, and physical abuse; and 5) loss of interest.[2] Contrary to popular belief, premarital cohabitation does not increase a couple’s “divorce risk”–if the couple intends to get married.[5] “Children” of divorced parents are twice as likely to drop out of high school and less likely to attend college.[2]
White women who “marry” outside their race are more likely to “divorce” than other ethnic groups. Mixed “marriages” involving blacks and whites were the least stable interracial “marriage,” followed by Hispanic-white couples.[18] First “marriages” that “end in divorce” usually last approximately 8 years.[11] “Divorced” men are at an especially high risk of alcohol abuse. In contrast, “divorced” women’s alcohol consumption falls sharply after a “divorce.”[1]
Approximately 6% of American couples “marry,” “divorce,” and then remarry each other.[17] In 2/3 of all American “divorces,” it’s the woman who files for “divorce.” Additionally, while men are financially better off than women after a “divorce,” they are more likely to suffer more emotionally.[17] Asian women are the most likely to be in a first “marriage” that lasts over 20 years. The CDC concludes that 70% of Asian women are still in their first “marriage,” compared to 54 % of white women, 53% of Hispanic women, and 37 % of black women.[18]
Some researchers note that men are eight times more likely than “divorced” women to commit suicide. They are also twice as likely to suffer depression and heart attacks.[13] The top six signs of an impending “divorce” include 1) dreaming of life without the spouse; 2) the bad in the “marriage” outweighs the good; 3) lack of communication; 4) engaging negative defense mechanisms, such as becoming overly defensive and dismissive; 5) a spouse feels like he or she is the only one trying to solve problems; and 6) the couple rarely, if ever has sex.
Final Thoughts
As we delve into the world of divorce, we uncover a myriad of facts that paint a complex picture of marriage, divorce, and societal norms. The “divorce statistics” and “divorce rates” reveal a fluctuating landscape, with factors such as “average age” at marriage, presence of “children”, and even “drinking habits” playing significant roles.
The “divorce rates” for “married straight couples” and “married same-sex couples” differ, as do the rates for first, second, and “third marriages”. These differences underscore the complexity of human relationships and the factors that contribute to a “marital split”.
Interestingly, the “divorce decreases” when couples have “similar drinking habits”, and “child support agreements” play a crucial role in the aftermath of a divorce. The “crude divorce rate” provides a much more accurate measure of divorce prevalence than simply looking at the number of divorces.
“Divorce facts” like these provide valuable insights into the dynamics of marriage and divorce. They highlight the importance of factors like “mental health”, “child custody”, and the financial aspects of a divorce.
In the end, whether we’re talking about “married straight couples”, “married same-sex couples”, or any other type of couple, the goal should always be to foster healthy, respectful relationships. And when a relationship ends, it’s crucial to handle the situation with care, especially when “children” are involved.
The world of divorce is complex and multifaceted, but by understanding the facts and statistics, we can better navigate this challenging terrain. Whether you’re a “divorcing couple”, a “custodial parent”, or simply someone interested in the topic, knowledge is power. And with power comes the ability to make informed decisions and foster healthier relationships.
Remember, every “divorce” or “marital split” has its unique circumstances and challenges. But with understanding, empathy, and respect, we can ensure that the process is as smooth and fair as possible for all parties involved.
Conclusion,
In conclusion, divorce is a complex and multifaceted issue that varies greatly across different cultures, legal systems, and personal circumstances. These 53 facts about divorce have hopefully provided you with a broader understanding of this topic. However, navigating the intricacies of divorce can be challenging and often requires professional guidance.
If you’re considering divorce, it’s crucial to seek advice not only from a lawyer but also from a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst. They can provide you with the necessary financial insights to ensure you make informed decisions that will protect your financial future.
Remember, you’re not alone in this journey. The Smart Divorce is here to provide you with the support and guidance you need. We understand that every situation is unique, and we’re committed to helping you navigate your divorce with confidence and clarity.
If you’ve found this blog post helpful and want to learn more about how we can assist you, we invite you to Schedule a Get Acquainted Call. This is your opportunity to ask questions, learn more about our services, and decide if we’re the right fit for you. We look forward to hearing from you and assisting you through this challenging time.
