The last two years have been difficult for many couples, and there have been predictions that the divorce rate is going to increase. What do the statistics tell us?
First of all, there is the chance of a “bounce,” seeing as how the rate hit a new low in 2019. If the last year and changes push people to get divorced more than normal, even returning to 2010 numbers would be seen as a notable increase. However, early indications seem to defy the predictions.
The divorce rate does keep dropping
The historical divorce rate, though, suggests that the numbers will not increase in a meaningful way. Between 1960 and 1980, it’s true that the divorce rate did rise dramatically. Since then, though, the trend has been a consistent decrease, year after year. While the rate has not yet fallen back to where it was in 1960, before that stunning rise, it’s still lower than what the country saw in the 1980s.
The reasons for these trends are many. The initial rise in the divorce rate was largely due to the widespread acceptance of no-fault divorce laws, which made it easier for couples to split up. The decline since then has been substantially promoted by the fact that young couples put off marriage and simply live together, making a divorce unneeded when if they do opt to break up.
Steps to take if you get divorced
While it will be interesting to see what the statistics do in 2021 and the years to come, there will always be divorce in the U.S. If you and your spouse decide to end your marriage, you must know what legal steps to take to protect your future.