Free Divorce Information

Marriage is an enriching experience for most couples, offering companionship, increased financial security, sexual gratification, and a welcome respite from the stressors of single life. It is good for society as well, providing a stable environment for children and encouraging. Divorce, on the other hand, is rarely a happy occasion. Breaking apart a marriage brings high costs, both financial and emotional. A divorcing couple is forced to divide up their families, their belongings, and their lives. There are several reasons for the increasing divorce rate in America.

One key reason for the rise in divorce rates is more lenient laws. Most states now offer a no-fault divorce, which is easier and cheaper than traditional divorce. Neither side has to prove fault or construct a legal attack on their spouse. Divorce in America now can be as simple as signing a few papers. With only legal paperwork standing between them and freedom, many disillusioned spouses find that a divorce is the simplest way out of an unhappy situation.

The rise in dual career homes has also contributed to the current divorce rate. Having two careers places additional stress on a couple. Often the wife feels that she is responsible for a disproportionate amount of housework and childcare, while the husband may feel that he is neglected by his too-busy wife. Although these seem like small matters, the negative emotions can build up over time to become serious marital issues, and eventually cause a divorce. In addition, dual career couples are better financially equipped to deal with a divorce, as they can each support themselves independently. They have less to lose and more to gain from separating.

Increased financial mobility has played a huge role in the increase in divorce rates. Less than a century ago, even middle class families worked hard simply to subsist. There was no money to divide, and no way for a single person to survive in society. The family unit was essential to putting food on the table. Divorce threatened not just society, but one's own material survival. Indeed, this trend can be seen today in countries such as China and India, where booming economies have lead to higher divorce rates.

Women's liberation and the recent shift in gender roles may also be responsible for the increasing divorce rate in America. There was a time when a couple entered their marriage with a good idea of how they would run their household. Society demanded that women stay home and care for the family, while the man was expected to earn a living and play a minimal role in his children's lives. Although this may have been stifling, it made life simpler for newlyweds. Couples now must deal with the additional stress of negotiating who will perform which duties. Conflicting expectations can cause stress and unhappiness, which in turn may lead to a divorce. Also, as women have been more empowered, they are less likely to tolerate an unkind or abusive spouse. Marriages that might have remained unhappy yet intact fifty years now frequently end in divorce.

Another societal factor that may be driving up the divorce rate is the rise of individualism. There was a time in the not-so-distant past when people existed first as members of their family and community. Individual fulfillment and happiness were not considered as important as the success of the group as a whole. In this millennium, people are taught to think first of their individual happiness. The effect of a divorce on their family and community is not considered as important as their own right to move on.

The prevalence of remarriage may also contribute to divorce rates. Divorce rate graphs show that second, third, and successive marriages have an increased chance of divorce. Studies also show that divorced people now are more likely than ever to remarry. If divorced couples continue marrying and divorcing throughout their lifetimes, this will drive up the current divorce rate.

The aforementioned factors are substantial, but none are in themselves important enough to be responsible for the soaring figures we see every day in published divorce rate graphs. The one major change that has pushed up our divorce rates so dramatically is the lack of societal stigma. The fabric that help together unhappy marriages in the past was not legal hurdles or lack of women's rights, but rather a very negative opinion of divorce in the American community. Couples who were unhappy knew that a divorce would bring even more unhappiness, in the form of rejection and derision from families and peers. Even their children would suffer at the hands of classmates and teachers. The threat of being disgraced in the community was enough to keep them together for better or worse.

In modern times, of course, this stigma has been removed. Although most people view the American divorce rate as unfortunate, few would blame any particular couple or their children. Most couples who divorce go on to lead happy, fulfilled lives, and their divorce does not tarnish their career or social lives.

For some couples, even the most miserable divorce is preferable to tolerating an unhappy marriage for another several decades. Many of the changes that have lead to a higher divorce rate, such as increased mobility and women's liberation, are actually positive changes in our culture. In many cases, divorce means not only an end, but a new beginning.

Many factors have pushed the divorce rate in America to its current high. While none are totally responsible, they each have contributed to the overall situation. Because the factors causing divorce are complex and difficult to change, it is easy to predict that future divorce rate graphs will look just as dismal or even more so. Divorce is not the cause of recent changes in our culture, but a symptom of it.

Here are additional resources you might be interested in:

Divorce Statistics in the USA

How to Conduct a Do It Yourself Divorce in the USA

How much does it Cost to Hire a Divorce Lawyer in the USA?

Is the Divorce Rate Increasing in the UK?

There's a number of places online where you can carry out a divorce (which is much cheaper than going through the courts and lawyers). Legal Zoom's 3-Step Divorce Process can provide quick and easy online divorces.