Who do you turn to when you need to file divorce papers? This is a question that many Americans today are struggling with in the modern day, with marriage rates dipping lower than they ever have been and divorce rates on the rise. When you need to organize everything from property ownership to child custody, it’s essential you ask a family lawyer for assistance. They will help you file divorce papers and smooth over the complex process of applications, fees and legal assistance. If you need to learn more about marriage rates in the United States or how child custody laws work, take a glance at the list below to get you started on the right track.
How Common Is Divorce?
Marriage rates have seen an all-time low in the past handful of years. Psychologists and economists alike have attributed this to many different reasons, from shifting cultural values to the more unstable nature of today’s modern economy. The median age for marriage in the 1950’s was around 23 for men and 20 for women — compare to the relatively recent year of 2004, where the age rose to 27 for men and 26 for women on average. It’s thought there are two divorces every single minute in the United States and studies show that number will only continue to increase as time goes on.
Why Do People Divorce?
While there are many different reasons people divorce, a few have risen to the top as the most frequent. According to a study published in the Journal of Family Issues, infidelity was the leading cause of divorce at 21% of respondents. Additional issues include, but are certainly not limited to, alcoholism, drug use, domestic violence and neglect. Women have been found to file the vast majority of divorces at two-thirds, although men tend to wait longer to remarry on average. Studies have also shown men being more likely to turn to alcohol in the aftermath of a divorce.
Do Therapy Services Help?
Some couples choose to attend marriage counseling services in an attempt to bring harmony and happiness to their union. Therapy sessions involve analyzing the couples’ unique situation, creating weekly plans and addressing any underlying problems. Couples’ therapists have reported multiple factors cropping up repeatedly in their sessions, with 50% of their caseloads involving some form of infidelity. Another 20% of couples say they divorced or considered a divorce due to incompatibility, while 10% cited drinking or drug abuse. Studies have shown couples who dated for at least three years before their engagement were 39% less likely to get divorced than couples who only dated less than a year beforehand.
What About Child Custody?
One of the most significant issues following the filing of divorce papers is child custody. Some lawyers that work in family law and marriage even specialize in the field of child custody cases. In nearly 30% of child custody cases the decision was made without third party involvement, with another 5% being resolved after a custody evaluation. Ongoing surveys have shown around 22% of fathers seeing their children more than once per week if they are living in separate households. Divorce has been shown to have a significant impact on a child’s life, with children of divorced parents struggling more in school than their peers with married parents.
Who Do I Contact To File Divorce Papers?
If you need to file divorce papers the first thing you need to do is contact a low cost divorce attorney in your area. Divorce help will assist you with everything from child custody claims to filing the necessary applications, answering any questions or addressing any concerns you have along the way. On average there is a zero to six month waiting period after the initial divorce petition is filed and served — this can even be before a divorce is final. To choose a divorce lawyer is to choose an easier path on your way to getting your life back in order.
