People in Virginia and across America are generally accepting of those who have gotten a divorce. However, the divorce rate has fallen from 4.7 per 1,000 American adults in 1990 to 2.9 per 1,000 in 2018. There are a variety of reasons as to why this is the case, and one of the reasons is that individuals tend to be older when they get married for the first time.
The average age for a man getting married in 2018 was 29.8 compared to 26.1 in 1890. Women also get married later in life today compared to 1890 as their average age at marriage is 27.8 compared to 22 in 1890. In addition to being older when getting married, younger adults tend to marry those who they feel especially bonded with. Finally, they tend to prioritize marriage only after achieving financial or educational goals.
While younger people tend to get divorced less often, Americans who are aged 50 and older are getting divorced more frequently than they were in 1990. Older folks may simply grow apart as they age, which leads to the end of their marriages. The fact that women have higher levels of financial independence means that they could be more likely to leave an unsatisfactory union. Events related to caring for children or elderly parents may also provide the catalyst for individuals to end their marriages.
Even if a divorce is amicable, it may take the help of an attorney to ensure that a final settlement is in a person’s best interest. A divorce and family law attorney may review a prenuptial agreement or any other documents created before or during the marriage. If such an agreement is valid, it may determine if anyone gets spousal support or if property is labeled as marital or separate.
