Marriage and divorce rates are tracked by the U.S. Census. The rates have fluctuated over the decades with changes in population and social norms. The same is true for remarriage.
Remarriage is a growing trend in the United States. According to research by the Pew Research Center, 42 million adults in the United States have been married more than once. In 1980, just 22 million people had been married more than once. Today, the number of remarried adults has tripled from the 1960 rate of 14 million.
Reasons for the Increase in Remarriage
What has caused more people to get remarried? The increase in the number of divorces is one factor. As more people become divorced, more adults are eligible to get remarried.
Also, people are living longer. Therefore, you have a set of adults in their senior years and remarry after their first spouse’s death.
Women vs. Men – Who Wants to Get Remarried?
The research showed that about forty percent of new marriages were remarriages for one or both spouses.
Men were more likely than women to be open to remarriage. Only 30 percent of the men responded that they did not want to get remarried compared to 54 percent of women. Only 15 percent of women said they wanted to get remarried compared to 29 percent of men.
However, these trends change over time. Also, the age of the respondent has an impact on their willingness to remarry.
Does Age Impact the Rate of Remarriage?
Age impacts the rate at which people remarry. As the age of the person increases, their willingness to remarry increases. Older individuals were more likely to remarry compared to younger adults.
Age brackets and the percentage of people who remarry were:
- 18 to 24 years – 29% will remarry
- 25 to 34 years – 43% will remarry
- 35 to 44 years – 57% will remarry
- 45 to 54 years – 63% will remarry
- 55 to 64 years – 67% will remarry
- 65 years and older – 50% will remarry
Time has changed the above numbers significantly for some groups. For example, in 1960, 72 percent of people under 35 would remarry. On the other hand, only 55 percent of people between the ages of 55 and 64 years remarried in 1960, compared to 67 percent in 2013.
Changing trends and social norms could explain the difference. Seniors who lost their spouses in the 1960s tended to remain single for the rest of their lives. However, people live longer now, and adult children are more accepting of their parents remarrying after a divorce or spouse’s death.
On the other hand, younger people may not view marriage as a necessity. Cohabitation is becoming a more popular trend among many younger adults. If their first marriage ends in divorce, they may be hesitant to repeat the process by remarrying someone.
Multiple Marriages – Third and Subsequent Marriages
It is estimated that about one-half of the marriages in the United States end in divorce. That figure increases to 65 percent for second marriages. Almost three-quarters of third marriages end in divorce.
With such dire statistics, it is surprising that anyone would try a second marriage, much less a third or fourth marriage. Yet, it happens.
Eight percent of the people who married in 2013 had been married at least twice. Most of these individuals were in older age brackets.
It makes sense that older adults would make up this bracket since it takes time to enter and end two or three marriages. Younger people may not have the time to get through two divorces to begin their third marriage by 30 or 40 years old.
Florida Divorce Issues and Family Law Matters
Divorce is difficult regardless of which marriage this is for you and your spouse. Some couples resolve their issues amicably and end their marriage through a collaborative law divorce or uncontested divorce action.
Other couples cannot resolve their disputes without court intervention. They require a judge to decide issues related to property division, custody, child support, and spousal support.
Individuals getting married or remarried may want to consider entering a prenuptial agreement. Also known as premarital agreements or marital agreements, a prenuptial agreement allows you to address many of the issues that you would need to resolve if you divorce.
A prenup can resolve issues related to dividing property and debts. A couple can agree on spousal support and business ownership. The couple may also include estate planning and financial decision-making in the prenuptial agreement.
A prenup may not sound romantic. For couples who have considerable net worth or who have been married before, a prenup can protect their property if the marriage fails. It can also reduce the stress and cost of a divorce action.
Contact Our Divorce Law Firm in Orlando, FL
Contact the experienced Orlando divorce lawyers at today for legal assistance. Contact our Orlando, FL office at (407) 898-2161 to schedule a free consultation.
McMichen, Cinami & Demps – Orlando Office
1500 E Concord St
Orlando, FL 32803
