Income, Not Co-Habitation Before Marriage, May Be More Significant in Divorce Decisions

By Sheryl Rentz on October 11, 2010

Every now and then, trends need to be re-examined, particularly when it comes to statistical data associated with those trends. When it comes to divorce rate and co-habitation before marriage, what can be deciphered today is different from what was concluded decades ago. According to a recent Newsweek article, living together before marriage was formerly considered a warning sign that an eventual marriage was doomed to end in divorce; but as society’s view of co-habitation has changed over the years, the correlation between co-habitation and divorce has less to do with the act of living together, and more with external factors that may have led to two people choosing to live with one another.

In the 1970s, nearly a third of couples decided to live together before marriage. At the time, societal views of the act of co-habitation were predominantly negative. Now, nearly two-thirds of all couples decide to live together before marriage and, while it is still considered by some to be an improper path taken prior to saying I do, it is much more accepted than ever before. However, when the financial situations of the two co-habiting individuals are taken into consideration, the likelihood of divorce is inevitably affected.

Reportedly, those individuals who live together to save money are often in financial situations characterized by a lack of financial security, and are more likely to divorce as a consequence.  Therefore, while divorce is not necessarily the direct result of living together, any two individuals who choose to and make such a decision based heavily on finances are likely to argue over financial issues on a more regular basis; thus making them more susceptible to choosing divorce over sustained marriage. In short, financial concerns and issues are a major cause of divorce in today’s couples.

In Pennsylvania, regardless of your financial circumstances, filing for divorce can be a difficult decision to make. To ensure your best interests are protected, retaining the services of an experienced Pennsylvania divorce attorney is the best course of action. For more information about filing for divorce in Pennsylvania, please contact the skilled Philadelphia family law attorneys at the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz. Call us today at 610-645-0100 for a free telephone consultation, and we will assist you with all matters pertaining to your divorce.