According to information in a recent study released by the National Center for Family and Marriage Research at Bowling Green State University, the divorce rate in California and the rest of the U.S. has fallen for the third straight year. In fact, 2015 had the lowest divorce rate in over 35 years.
The census data that is used to determine the marriage and divorce trends for the previous year shows that the divorce rate dropped from 17.6 to 16.9 per 1,000 marriages in 2015. The data also indicates that the marriage rate could be stabilizing.
The cause of the falling divorce rate is difficult to identify. Contributing factors may include changes in traditional gender roles, the lower number of marriages and the aging population of the nation.
While there was a drop in the yearly divorce numbers, this doesn’t mean that all marriages will last longer. There has been an increase in divorce among older individuals and a decrease in the divorce rate among younger couples. Sociologists state that marriages today have a 50 percent chance of lasting, which is the same probability they had decades ago.
Another factor in the decline in the overall divorce rate may be that many couples are choosing to reside together without getting married. The study reported that the number of Americans over 50 who are living together tripled to 3.2 million from 2000 to 2014.
A family law attorney may assist individuals seeking a divorce by working to obtain the best possible settlement terms. The attorney may also advise on child custody and alimony issues.