Nobody goes into a marriage thinking about divorce. However, there are various reasons why a marriage may not work out, and divorce may be the best option for all people involved. The divorce rate has been dropping in Pennsylvania and throughout the US. Along with that drop, we have also seen a drop in marriage rates. What are the statistics telling us?
2000-2018 U.S. Divorce Rates
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) keeps track of divorce rates for most states in the country. Here, we want to discuss the divorce rates in Pennsylvania and how they have changed over the last 20 years. Below, the rates listed are per 1,000 total population residing in Pennsylvania.
In 2000, the divorce rate in PA was 3.1 (per 1,000 people). Since that time, the divorce rate has slowly trended downward. In 2010, the divorce rate was 2.7. During the latest reporting year of data available, 2018, the divorce rate in PA was 2.6.
When we step back and look at the divorce rate across the United States over the same period, we can see that in 2000, the country’s divorce rate was 4.0. Similar to the trend in PA, the divorce rate began to drop in the US. By 2010, the rate in this country was 3.6. By 2018, the latest year of data we have, the country’s divorce rate was 2.9.
There are various reasons why the divorce rate has trended downward in Pennsylvania and the rest of the US over the last few decades, with one of the main reasons being that people are putting off marriage until later in life. When we look at the overall marriage rate in the US from 2000 to 2018, we see a drop, similar to the one we see with divorce rates. In 2000, there were 8.2 people married per 1,000 population. By 2010, that number was down to 6.8, and in 2018, the marriage rate was 6.5.
Many couples, particularly those of the Millennial generation, are choosing to simply live with one another instead of getting married. Some couples consider a wedding an expense they do not need to incur, particularly after the financial meltdown in 2007/2008, a time with Millennials were entering the workforce.
Call the Ciccarelli Law Offices for help
Many people wonder if they need an attorney to help with their divorce. The answer in nearly every case is going to be, yes, you do need a local family attorney. Even for uncontested divorce cases, both parties involved want to be sure they do everything correctly. For a contested divorce, emotions can run high and either party could make a decision that hurts them in the divorce process. An attorney will handle every aspect of your divorce case.
If you think you may be going through a divorce in the near future, or are already going through one, please consult with a qualified and experienced attorney about your case. At the Ciccarelli Law Offices, our team is ready to help you handle every aspect of your divorce. This include:
- Property and asset distribution
- Spousal maintenance (alimony)
- Child custody and visitation
- Child support
- Paternity issues
- Interstate child custody
- Modifications
- Domestic violence
- Enforcement orders
All of this can be incredibly complicated to handle on your own. When you need a Pennsylvania divorce attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation of your case by clicking here or by calling 610-692-8700.