Divorces occur throughout the United States on a regular basis. Approximately every 36 seconds to be more exact. This means that there are almost 2,400 divorces being finalized every day, 16,800 every week, and 876,000 every year.
Research indicates that 40% to 50% of all first marriages will end in divorce. Second marriages, however, dissolve even more frequently at 60%. It’s interesting to note that roughly 1% of same-sex married couples are seeking divorces every year. Married straight couples, however, are getting divorced twice as much at 2% a year.
Regardless of their sexual orientation, couples divorce for a variety of reasons. In Sweden, for example, a study found that when people spent more than 45 minutes commuting to work on a daily basis, their marriages were more likely to end in divorce.
Other couples may divorce due to communication issues, particularly where finances and child-rearing practices are concerned. Adultery and other types of betrayal also constitute grounds for divorce.
There are, of course, even more serious grounds for divorce. These include domestic violence issues, which pertain to both spousal and child abuse.
If you’re planning to divorce, it’s important to consult with a lawyer. Since over 1 million children are affected by divorce every year, a family law attorney can provide you with counsel to ensure that various issues are taken into consideration. Child custody, visitation rights, child support, and alimony are all important issues to discuss with a lawyer.
When seeking a divorce due to domestic violence issues, you may have already filed a restraining order. If this order has been violated, then it’s important to discuss this situation with your family law attorney. They will be able to explain how to proceed in this instance.
If you have been arrested for domestic violence, violating a restraining order, or another relevant issue, then you will want to consult with a criminal defense attorney. This is particularly important if you are innocent of the charges or if there are extenuating circumstances.
Divorce attorneys understand that your reasons for choosing to divorce are unique to your situation. Since they have experience in this area of the law, they will be able to determine how best to represent you during this challenging time.