Four Common Divorce Myths Debunked

 Posted on July 28, 2022 in Divorce

With the prevalence of television, movies, and sensationalized media, it can be hard to know what information regarding divorce is true. The process can be complicated, and there are many misunderstandings about the law. Some people who consider divorcing their spouse first seek advice from others, who while well-meaning, are often not trained in family law matters or informed about recent changes to the law. The following are some of the most persistent divorce myths that are simply not true.

Myth: Half of All Marriages End in Divorce

Reality: This myth is quite complicated but a myth nonetheless. There are many different ways of analyzing data regarding divorce rates. According to the National Marriage Project, the divorce rate in the United States is between 40-50 percent. Other sources show that the divorce rate is between 42 and 45 percent. Divorce rates are different for different demographics. For example, people with a college degree have lower divorce rates than those without a degree.

Myth: Divorce Is Becoming More and More Likely

Reality: There are many people who believe that the institution of marriage is nearly meaningless nowadays. However, there are several reasons to believe that divorce will become less and less common over time. While it is true that the U.S divorce rate now is nearly twice what it was in 1960, that rate has been declining since the early 1980s. Experts believe that if current divorce trends continue, that nearly two-thirds of marriages will never involve a divorce.

Myth: Every Husband Will Have to Pay His Wife Alimony

Reality: Movies and extravagant celebrity divorces have created a great deal of confusion surrounding alimony. Alimony, also called spousal support or spousal maintenance, is money which a person must pay his or her ex-spouse to help them manage their finances after a divorce. About 400,000 people in the United States receive post-divorce spousal maintenance currently and about 97 percent of those people are women. In Illinois, a person is likely to be required to pay his or her spouse maintenance if there is a significant difference in the income and earning capacity of the spouses, which is not the case in many marriages. Other factors apply, but income and earning capacity are generally among the most important.

Myth: Divorce Is Always the Worst Option if You Have Children

Reality: There has been a tremendous amount of research about how children grow and develop. Experts have found that children do much better in school and are less likely to suffer from mental illnesses when they have a relationship with both of their parents. However, the parents do not need to be living together for the child to reap the benefits of having both of his parents in his life. Furthermore, children are deeply disturbed by tension and violence between their parents. If a child is living in a household which is full of arguments and animosity, he or she may be relieved to hear of a divorce.

Contact a DuPage County Divorce Attorney

If you are considering divorce, you will almost certainly benefit from consulting with an experienced Naperville divorce lawyer attorney at Calabrese Associates, P.C.. We will help you explore your options and make the best decisions for yourself and your family. Call 630-393-3111 to schedule a free initial consultation with a member of our team today.

Sources:

https://www.apa.org/topics/divorce-child-custody/healthy

http://nationalmarriageproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/SOU2019.pdf

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-single/201702/what-is-the-divorce-rate-really