As someone purchases an engagement ring, thinks about proposing, and then proposes–there are things he or she doesn’t want to think. Mainly, that 41% of first marriages end in divorce. It’s a shocking number but it doesn’t nearly cover the damage that the divorce will bring. All the high hopes of the proposal crashing down like a house of cards.
In the United States, there are about 876,000 divorces every year. That means there’s a new divorce happening every 36 seconds. The numbers grow larger for second and third marriages. 60% of second marriages end in divorce, while 73% of third marriages fail. Although, these numbers are shocking, they still don’t tell the whole picture.
- The average length of a failed marriage is eight years.
- The average age for couples going through their first divorce is 30 years old.
But there things that make the likelihood of staying together stronger.
- If your parents are happily married, your risk of divorce decreases by 14%.
- If you’ve attended college, your risk of divorce decreases by 13%.
- “Red” or Republican states have a higher divorce rate than “Blue” or Democrat states.
- Living apart until marriage decreases the likelihood of divorce, as living together prior to marriage increases the likelihood of divorce by as much as 40%.
The unfortunate consequence for a couple who gets divorced is the matter of children. While the divorce rate for couples who have children is 40% less likely, many who do have children still may be forced into divorce. This can happen through irreconcilable differences, lack of communication, physical, emotional, and mental abuse and more.
Unfortunately, this divorce, while freeing in some respects, can place a burden on the children of the family. Thankfully, family lawyers are there to help the situation to its most positive ending.
There are many lawyers that practice different kinds of law. There is the personal injury lawyer, the accident attorney, the auto accident lawyer, and the family lawyers and child custody lawyers. The last two are particularly important for this article, as they have an instrumental impact on the proceedings for divorce.
Here are some shocking statistics about divorce and its impact on children.
- 43% of children today are being raised without their fathers.
- 75% of children of divorced parents are living with their mother.
- 28% of children living with a divorce parent live below the poverty line.
- Half of all American children will witness the break-up of their parent’s marriage.
If you’re filing the paperwork to get divorced, it’s valuable to start thinking about finding a family law attorney. A family law attorney will effectively handle your case if he or she has the following credentials.
Educational Background
When looking through family lawyers, prepare yourself to ask questions of them to determine if they are the right fit for your needs. One of the easiest background assessments is to look at their educational background.
Not all law schools are made equal. A law degree from the University of Memphis is not the same as a law degree from Columbia University in New York City. Diplomas are usually hanging on the walls of his or her office. Look at the diploma and reference the school.
Track Record
An important question to ask the attorney as you’re sitting in his or her office is whether they have won cases consistently. An attorney with a strong track record is important to winning.
Divorce proceedings cover the property division, the alimony or spousal support, the custody arrangements of the children, and so forth. The divorce proceedings will determine your life for a number of years. Having a lawyer who has a track record of gaining the best outcome will help.
Personality
Not all law is similar and not all personalities will suit every type of law. A lawyer who is docent because he or she is more well-versed in the details of minute Marine time law may not be the best fit for you as a divorce attorney.
A lawyer who has a strong presence, who will advocate consistently for your children and yourself, who will be assertive if not aggressive in accomplishing these goals, leads to the best possible outcome for you and your children.
Finding the best family lawyers take time and perseverance. But it leads to the best possible outcome.