How old were you when you got married? You may find yourself considering your odds of divorce or trying to plan ahead if you think a divorce is coming up. What you will find is that the age at which you tied the knot can play a big role in whether or not you will eventually get divorced.
As a general rule, getting married young leads to higher divorce rates. There are numerous reasons for this. For one thing, young couples may struggle to support themselves financially. They may also grow apart as they get older and develop or change, both emotionally and intellectually. There are certainly some young marriages that work, but the divorce rate is higher for these couples as a whole.
What does that rate look like?
One study looked into divorce rates to see how age would impact this process. They found that 32 was the ideal age to get married, at least when considering your odds of divorce. For every year prior to 32, your odds of getting a divorce go up by 11%. So you’d be drastically more likely to get a divorce if you were married at 22 as opposed to 32.
But it is also possible to wait too long. If you got married in your 40s, your divorce odds are higher than they would’ve been at 32, for instance. Every year after 32, they go back up by about 5%.
Your options in a divorce
Again, these statistics do not guarantee divorce, but they just help to point out why it might happen and when it is likely. If you do find yourself in this position, then it’s important to understand all the legal options you have.