Are Millennials lowering the national divorce rate? A new study out of the University of Maryland has determined that the national divorce rate dropped by 18% from 2008 to 2016. Have the values with which Millennials approach a marriage fundamentally changed the success rates of today’s marriages?
The study noted women in new marriages today are much more likely to be entering their first marriage, have a college degree or higher education, are likely to be above the age of 25 and less likely to have children present in the household. The study clearly states “the overall drop has been driven entirely by younger women.”
Millennials are waiting longer to get married than previous generations. The study showed many Millennials are highly focused on establishing their careers and building a bit of financial strength before contemplating marriage. Generally speaking, each year we age brings a little more understanding of ourselves and how we fit into the world in general. Each year increases our wisdom, experience and in many cases relationship skills. The study believes this is a core factor in why Millennials are choosing to wait to get married and tend to choose to stay married.
“The trends described (within the study) represent progress toward a system in which marriage is rarer, more stable than it was in the past, representing an increasingly central component of the structure of social inequality.”
Are Millennials lowering the national divorce rate here in Southern California? While the divorce rate in the US continues to hover near 50% we can all hope for continued progress as noted in the University of Maryland study. The nature of divorce has continued to evolve as well. The old model of a dragged out legal dog fight is much less common (though there are still times to stand up for principle). Today’s divorce in North County San Diego and across Southern California tends to work toward negotiated process resulting in much stronger agreements between the parties.
The attorneys at Burke & Domercq are committed to accomplishing our client’s goals and objectives in all divorce and family law matters. If you are looking for experienced divorce, child custody and family law attorneys in Carlsbad, Encinitas, Oceanside, Vista or Carlsbad we invite you to review the recommendations of our clients and contact us or call 760-389-3927 to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced attorneys.