Do You Know Your Local Divorce Rate?

By Sheryl Rentz on September 16, 2019

In 2018, there were 70,954 marriages and 33,412 divorces and annulments in Pennsylvania, as reported by the state Department of Health. Montgomery County ranked among the counties with the lowest divorce rates, with 1,523 divorces among an estimated population of 828,604, amounting to 540.86 residents per divorce.

Even a less contentious divorce can be a difficult and complicated process. If you are facing divorce in Pennsylvania, contact the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz, P.C., at (610) 645-0100 today. Our experienced Montgomery County divorce attorney can provide the sound legal guidance and dedicated advocacy you deserve.

Top 10 Pennsylvania Counties with the Worst Divorce Rates

As reported in a Leigh Valley Live article, the following are the top 10 counties in Pennsylvania with the worst divorce rates – the least number of residents per divorce – beginning with the worst county for divorce in the state:

• Jefferson County: 155 divorces; estimated population 43,641; 281.55 residents per divorce.
• Huntington County: 150 divorces; estimated population 45,168; 301.12 residents per divorce.
• Clinton County: 128 divorces; estimated population 38,684; 302.22 residents per divorce.
• Mifflin County: 150 divorces; estimated population 46,222; 308.15 residents per divorce.
• Venango County: 161 divorces; estimated population 51,266; 318.42 residents per divorce.
• Lebanon County: 441 divorces; estimated population 141,314; 320.44 residents per divorce.
• Tioga County: 123 divorces; estimated population 40,763; 331.41 residents per divorce.
• Carbon County: 192 divorces; estimated population 64,227; 334.52 residents per divorce.
• Greene County: 109 divorces; estimated population 36,506; 334.92 residents per divorce.
• Perry County: 136 divorces; estimated population 46,139; 339.26 residents per divorce.

When Is Divorce a Good Option?

When you are invested in a marriage, the prospect of divorce is not an easy one to face. Nevertheless, divorce may be the right option for you if certain conditions exist in your marriage.

Abuse

When there is a pattern of physical or verbal abuse in a marriage, ending the marriage is usually best for all parties concerned. Abused spouses and children typically have better lives after divorce. Ending a marriage with an abusive spouse can be risky, but legal help is available. The Governor signed House Bill No. 12 into effect on April 12, 2016. This new law loosens statewide restrictions on divorce for victims of spousal abuse, allowing them to exit an unsafe marriage quickly.

Infidelity

Many people choose to end a marriage when they discover that their spouse has cheated on them. Some couples can work through it and stay together, but it can be a challenging process. If your spouse has been unfaithful, you will need to decide whether divorce is the best option for you.

Addiction

People can be addicted to different things, including drugs, alcohol, gambling, and pornography. In some cases, the addicted spouse can kick the addiction, and the marriage can be put back together. In other cases, the best course of action is to separate yourself and your children from the addict.

Divorce May Be Better Than Staying in a Bad Marriage

It is easy to focus on the negatives when divorce is on the horizon, either through your choice or your spouse’s choice or by mutual consent. However, despite the stress of ending a marriage, there are some important reasons why divorce could be your best choice, including the following:

• Modeling an unhealthy relationship is not in your children’s best interests: Being a single parent is better for your children than staying in a bad marriage during their formative years. Enduring a hostile home life is worse for children than divorce.
• Ending a bad marriage can give you hope for the future: A marriage, even a bad one, can provide a sense of security. When you terminate a bad marriage, you trade that security for hope and a new lease on life. When you are done with trying to make the marriage better to no avail, you can devote your energy to more important areas of your life.
• Divorce clears the way for you to meet the right partner: It may be a painful process, but divorce can bring relief when it is over. It also gives you the freedom to meet someone who is as invested in the relationship as you are. We all deserve to be loved, and divorce is preferable to a marriage in which love is lacking.

Get Help from an Experienced Divorce Lawyer

There are aspects of divorce that can be difficult and stressful to resolve, including child custody, child support, and division of marital assets. One of the functions of our experienced Montgomery divorce attorney at the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz, P.C., is to help keep the situation from becoming messy. If you are facing a divorce, call our Ardmore office right away so we can guide you through the process as quickly and as smoothly as possible.