Are millennials the reason for the divorce rate drop?

Tucson Family Law Logo

The trend with millennials has been to stay married once they do decide to marry. Divorce rates climbed in the country during the 1970s and 80s and peaked in the mid-70s with 5.3 divorces for every 1,000 Americans. That number has dropped significantly, and it was 2.9 for every 1,000 Americans in 2017. That decline, some experts suggest, has to do with more millennials staying married and Arizona residents are among them.

In fact, research shows that there was an 18% drop in the overall divorce rate from 2008 to 2016. Even as millennials approach mid-age, it is expected that those married couples will stay that way. If their marriages are still going strong when they reach their 40s, it is likely they will remain married. Of course, millennials do get divorced, but these divorces actually take on their own dynamic. For instance, many spouses remain friends after their divorces.

The divorces of millennials appear to be much less complicated according to statistics. Thanks to technology, these couples are much more prepared if they decide to part ways; in other words, they actually plan for it. These couples also have more prenuptial agreements in place than do older married couples.

No matter how long a couple has been married or what their ages are, divorce is never an easy decision. It may take the legal acumen of an experienced attorney to help a client through the process. A lawyer can make recommendations once he or she reviews a client’s personal situation and advise a client on the tools available to make divorce less stressful and cost-effective.