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Baltimore County Family Law Attorney Blog

Baltimore County Family Lawyer Discusses Divorce Rate Trends

Written by Amar Weisman » February 27, 2017 »

Divorce. It’s one word that always seems to be on everyone’s mind. With so many very public and sometimes scandalous celebrity divorces in the magazines, it seems only natural that marriage, divorce, and the way we think about love may be evolving in the 21st century in Cockeysville. But what’s the real deal with marriage and divorce statistics? We’re here to explain.

The most recent national data is only as recent as 2014, so we’ll have to rely on those numbers to fuel our discussion.

Let’s start with the unions. In 2014, there were 2,140,272 marriages. That’s a lot of reasons to celebrate! But in that same year, there were 813,862 divorces and annulments. Interestingly, this is the lowest number of marriages, divorces and annulments since the turn of the 21st century.

Back in 2000, while 2,315,000 marriages took place, 944,000 divorces and annulments also happened. It’s worth noting that both of these numbers have slowly decreased in the past 14 years. The correlation makes sense. After all, if fewer people are getting married on average, then one could assume that fewer people would also be getting divorced.

For what it’s worth, these statistics do not chart specific demographics or age ranges. However, there are a variety of factors that can influence a couple’s decision to both get married and to get divorced.

Factors Influencing Marriage and Divorce

For many, tying the knot comes down to an issue of money. If a couple’s finances aren’t in order, then it can be difficult to make the choice to start a life, legally, together. These days, many people are choosing to delay marriage in order to focus on their careers, pursue higher education, or a variety of other personal goals that may be more difficult to accomplish once they’re in a legally committed relationship.

When it comes to divorce, societal expectations have become less and less rigid over the years, slowly removing a once heavy stigma that used to linger over the idea of calling it quits. Recently, couples who have been married and successfully raised children together will decide to divorce after the kids have gone off to college. Whether due to personal irreconcilable differences, or a realization that a former Parkville love was lost, it’s become more and more common for couples to reach the end of the line and part ways.

So, what’s the take away here? In general, both marriage and divorce rates are down. Due to a variety of social and financial factors, these rites of passage are evolving to reflect changing social values. That said, the choice to legally marry or divorce is always a personal issue first. And if you have questions or are ready to take the next step, then you can rest assured a Towson divorce lawyer is here to help.

Call For a Free Consultation 

Call The Law Offices of Amar S. Weisman at (410) 321-4994 to schedule a Free ConsultationThe Purpose of the consultation is to determine whether you want to retain this law firm as your Baltimore & Towson Family Lawyer. If you do wish to proceed, then you must pay a retainer. See Our Policy on Fees and Costs. The family firm is located next to The Circuit Court for Baltimore County, at 1018 Dulaney Valley Road, Towson, MD 21204.