As many Arkansas divorcees are aware, the decision to separate can happen at any point in a couple’s marriage. Sometimes a marriage lasts for decades before the couple realizes that their differences are irreconcilable. Other times a marriage may end mere months after the ceremony is complete. Every situation is unique, but one thing is clear — divorce is oftentimes unavoidable when a marriage has reached the point of being irretrievably broken.
Arkansas residents may be surprised to learn of a recent development involving divorce statistics. According to reports, there is a direct correlation between the improving economy in the U.S. and the worsening divorce rates. There is an obvious conclusion to draw from this. When the U.S. economy was struggling, couples delayed divorce in order to save money. Some may have been under the impression that divorce would be too expensive in economically unstable times. Once the economy rebounded, couples felt financially stable enough to begin divorce proceedings.
In the time following the end of the 18-month recession, divorce rates continued to grow. Looking at it historically, this is commonly the case during recession and economic recovery. Divorce rates drop dramatically during a recession and then begin to climb again once the economy begins to rebound.
The anxiety couples may feel about finances during divorce may be quelled by a well-structured divorce strategy. With legal expertise, divorcees can begin to structure divorce strategies that help to protect their financial interests. Divorce does not have to be financially devastating — there are ways in which divorcees are able to fight for a favorable property division outcome and smartly structure their financial plans to better the chances of a financially advantageous outcome.
Source: Bloomberg Businessweek, “Worsening U.S. Divorce Rate Points to Improving Economy,” Steve Matthews, Feb. 18, 2014
