Although many Texas residents may agree that divorce is a serious societal problem, statistics actually show improvements in divorce rates among some demographic groups in modern days. An evaluation of statistics from 2013 demonstrates that a smaller percentage of individuals in their 20s have ended a first marriage than in the 1960s and 1980s. In fact, the 1960 divorce rate for younger individuals is higher than the 2013 rate among all people under 30 years of age. At 30 years old, the 2013 rates increase dramatically in comparison. The 2013 divorce rates surpass those for the 1980s beginning at the 40-year-old mark.
While contemporary divorce rates are lower among younger couples, the rates dramatically exceed those of earlier decades for those who are at least 40 years old. The 2013 statistics peak for those ranging from 55 to 65 in age. In comparing different marital statuses for 2013, the numbers are nearly equal for 60-year-olds who are in their first marriages and for those who have ended at least one marriage. The number of individuals in a first marriage tends to exceed the number who have divorced at nearly all other age ranges.
An individual might draw conclusions about the potential for facing the end of a marriage based on these statistics. However, statistics don’t determine the course of a particular relationship. Rather, they provide an understanding of trends that might be influenced by numerous factors. If many of today’s young people wait to marry because of the pursuit of career goals, for example, then divorce trends might not spike until a later age range.
An individual who is contemplating divorce might wonder if there is a best time to bring that action. It may help to discuss the issues of concern with a family law attorney to determine how factors such as retirement, child rearing and finances would be affected by the action.
