Does Getting Married Young Put You at Risk for Divorce?

By Sheryl Rentz on October 12, 2017

Everyone remembers their high school sweethearts. Knee-deep in teenage love, you thought you’d be together forever. Now that you’re much older, can you imagine marrying your high school sweetheart at the ripe old age of 18?

Most likely the answer is no. Which makes perfect sense.

According to the National Survey of Family Growth undertaken by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, couples who marry as teenagers or in their early twenties have a higher rate for divorce. Once you turn 25, the divorce rate drops by 50%.

There are a number of factors that cause young marriages to fail before they make it to the five-year anniversary. Let’s have a look at why.

Maturity Matters

Marriage is hard work; no matter how much you love a person, it takes more than love to make a marriage work. The downfall of most young marriages is that couples simply are not mature enough to handling major problems in a relationship such as finances, communication issues, and adapting to the changes of married life.

Another issue is that couples often grows apart. You’re not the same person at 25 that you were at 18, so as you grow and mature, you may not be as compatible with your partner as you once were.

People who marry at an older age tend to have more lasting marriages. Why? Because partners tend to be more mature and stable, financially and emotionally. However, according to this survey, the divorce rate spikes back up for those who marry over the age of 35! The cause is attributed to “baggage” from previous relationships, such as having to deal with ex-wives, ex-husbands, and previous children. Having to integrate separate families into one can be challenging, and leads to the demise of some relationships. In addition, it’s also hard for a person who has been single well into his/her 30s to adjust to married life.

All in all, it’s best to wait until you are financially, physically, and emotionally ready to get married. For different people, that means different things, but the “sweet spot” seems to be around 30–34 years old. Of course, love plays a big part in deciding to get married, but if you want to stay married, it is best to consider all factors. The Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz, P.C., has been representing clients in Montgomery County for over 20 years. We handle all premarital agreements. Give our office a call at (610) 645-0100 for a free consultation.