Did you know that Arkansas’ divorce rate is among the highest in the country? According to a new “divorce map,” Arkansas ranks among Oklahoma, Alabama, Kentucky, Alaska and Maine as the states that have the highest divorce rates per 1,000 people (aged at least 15). The map says that Arkansas has a divorce rate of 12.64 to 14.35 people per 1,000.
It’s a fairly jarring statistic, made even more amazing when you consider that Arkansas does not have a single city or town that ranks in the top 10 for “most divorced” cities. Florida actually has four such cities on that list, and yet the state itself ranks in the middle of the pack nationally for divorce rates.
While this map makes for some interesting banter and statistical fun, the fact is that every divorce is unique. Slapping a divorce rate on an entire state and assuming that rate applies to everyone therein is the wrong way to look at this. Some states have laws that make the divorce process arduous and difficult for the filing couple; some states have laws that do the opposite.
And it goes beyond laws. Demographic information, financial situations, education levels, family, past indiscretions: all of these elements play a role in a couple’s decision to file for divorce. Once a couple has decided their marriage has reached an untenable point, the only factor that matters is attaining a family law attorney. Each spouse needs an attorney to ensure their rights are being protected and to make sure they are making the best possible case to finalize their split.
Source: Huffington Post, “This Map Of U.S. Divorce Rates Shows Where Marriages Go To Die,” Ashley Reich, Nov. 4, 2013