Most of our readers in Virginia have heard the common saying that half of all marriages end in divorce. That may or may not be true, but statistics can tell us quite a bit about marriage and divorce in America.
For example, according to a recent news report, in one recent year alone—2021—over 689,000 divorces occurred in America. That may sound like a lot, but consider this: in that same year, over 1,985,000 marriages occurred. So, it seems like couples in our country are getting married at almost three times the rate of those who are getting divorced, right? Well, it may not be that simple. The recent news report noted that couples in their first marriages actually do get divorced at about a 50% rate. And, according to the article, couples who are on their second or even third marriage experience divorce at an even higher rate.
What it means for you
So, what do these statistics say about you and your own unique marriage and divorce issues? Well, primarily, it means that you aren’t alone in facing these difficult situations. Divorce is obviously common, even if it can be a gut-wrenching emotional rollercoaster for many Virginia residents. But the facts of any given divorce case are unique to the couple who are going through the process.
If you are facing divorce, it is important to think carefully about the issues you will need to address. For most divorcing couples, the issues will be: property and debt division, alimony, child custody and child support.