What age presents the least risk of divorce for couples to get married at? For years, young couples have been told it is best to wait until they are older and more settled to wed, but is that really accurate advice? According to a new study, waiting may actually increase the risk of divorce.
The study was conducted by a sociologist from the University of Utah who used data collected for the National Survey of Family Growth between the years 2006 and 2010. The research revealed that people who wait until after the age of 32-years-old to get married increase their risk of divorce by at least five percent. Prior to age 32, each additional year a person waits until they are married reduces the risk of divorce by 11 percent.
The data also revealed that this increase in divorce risk after age 32 is a fairly new trend which only began developing over the past two decades. The study even adjusted factors which may have explained the increase, such as age at the time of survey, education, family structure, gender, race, religion, and sexual history. Even the population of the area respondents lived in was factored in. These factors did not alter the divorce risk increase at all.
The conclusion of the study was that the best time for couples to marry is when they are in late twenties. This appears to offer the least amount of divorce risk.
If you are considering getting married – regardless of your age or whether or not this is your first or second marriage – one of the most important items that should be on your wedding “to-do” list is a prenuptial agreement. A prenuptial agreement is a contract between two people who are contemplating marriage which will go into effect once they are legally wed.
A prenuptial agreement clearly specifies how the couple will divide assets, property, debts, and other financial matters in the event the marriage breaks up. These contracts are especially important for couples who are bringing their own property and assets into a marriage, as well as for couples who have children from prior relationships.
If you are engaged, contact an experienced DuPage County family law attorney to discuss drafting a prenuptial agreement between you and your fiancée.
Sources:
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/delaying-marriage-after-30s-may-increase-risk-divorce-new-study-finds/
http://family-studies.org/want-to-avoid-divorce-wait-to-get-married-but-not-too-long/
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=2087&ChapterID=59