Texas residents who have more education might be less likely to get a divorce than those who have less. Overall, divorce is on the decline, with millennials in particular driving down the rate. However, having less education and a lower income can put additional strain on a marriage that can raise the likelihood.
Divorce was uncommon until laws began changing in the 20th century. Initially, divorce was more common for couples who had a higher education. It is likely that this was because they had the resources available for the process. However, there was then a shift in which the rate grew among people who had less education. One reason for this was that they also tended to marry earlier. According to a 2015 study by the Pew Research Center, women who only have a high school diploma have a 40% probability that their marriage will last compared to a 78% chance for college-educated women.
Other factors intertwined with these also raise the likelihood of divorce. For example, people may drop out of school because they do not deal with stress as well. An inability to deal with stress can also make it more difficult for a person to sustain a marriage. Overall, studies seem to indicate that maturity and financial stability contribute to a lasting marriage.
When a marriage does end in a divorce, people must go through a difficult process of determining how they will divide their property. Since Texas is a community property state, shared property is supposed to be split equally. However, this does not necessarily mean that they must split all their shared property 50/50, and couples may be able to negotiate an agreement that is more flexible and suited to their circumstances. They may also agree on child custody outside of court.