Making Sense of Divorce Statistics

 Posted on November 30, 2022 in Divorce

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the number of divorces in the United States has actually declined over the past two decades, going from 944,000 divorces and annulments a yearto 630,505 a year. U.S. News and World Report further reported that Illinois had the fifth-lowest divorce rate in the country at 6.2 percent.

While many people are now of the belief that most marriages will begin with a 50 percent chance of divorce, many experts believe the divorce rate is lower than this. Unfortunately, there are still a multitude of reasons that a marriage can end these days. If you are planning to divorce, make sure to work with an experienced divorce attorney who can help you throughout the process. 

Common Issues in an Illinois Divorce Case 

While divorce might be becoming less common than it was 20 years ago, many people still deal with divorce issues like property division, child custody, and spousal maintenance every year. While the overall divorce rate has decreased, the over-50 population has seen a dramatic increase in divorce cases. Older people are divorcing at a much higher rate than the younger crowd. With age often comes increased financial resources, including complex assets like investments and real estate. Dividing property in a “gray divorce” often presents a unique challenge. 

Child-related disputes are common in divorce cases involving parents. One study found that 86 percent of child custody disputes in which both parents retain a lawyer settle out of court. However, the likelihood of an out-of-court settlement decreased when one or both parents did not retain a lawyer. Ideally, parents can reach an agreement about how to divorce parenting authority and time spent caring for their children. However, if parents disagree about how to divide parental responsibilities and parenting time, the court may intervene and make a determination that is in the child’s best interests. 

Child support can also add a layer of complexity to a divorce case, especially if one of the parents is unemployed. 

Spousal maintenance or alimony is not as common as child-related and property-related issues during divorce. However, there are still divorce cases in which a spouse is entitled to maintenance payments. Only about three percent of spousal maintenance recipients are men. However, Illinois spousal maintenance laws apply equally to both sexes. 

Contact a Will County, IL Divorce Attorney

If you know that your marriage is heading for a divorce contact the Naperville divorce lawyers at Law Office of Ronald L. Hendrix, P.C. for help. 

Our firm is backed by more than three decades of experience. Call 630-355-7776 or contact us online to set up a free consultation.

Sources:

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/dvs/national-marriage-divorce-rates-00-20.pdf

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/articles/states-with-the-highest-divorce-rates

https://www.custodyxchange.com/topics/research/divorce-custody-statistics-2021.php

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-divorce-alimony-men/more-men-get-alimony-from-their-ex-wives-idUSBRE9BN0AW20131224