Millennials are Disrupting This Aspect of Family Law

Overall divorce rates are decreasing, experts say millennials are to thank. These young adults are disrupting what has otherwise been an upward family law trend. There are likely a number of factors at play, including more adults going to college and delaying marriage. However, marriage is also perceived differently in Tennessee today than it was in past decades.

Previous generations viewed growing up, getting married and having children as the natural order of things. Today’s young adults think of marriage as more of a status symbol, an achievement that they can achieve after establishing themselves. This includes getting a college degree, securing a stable career and reaching a certain level of financial security.  As such, millennials tend to be pickier when it comes to choosing a spouse, so saying “yes” to the first serious relationship is not necessarily the norm.

These factors likely contributed to the 18 percent drop in divorces between 2008 and 2016 for those aged 45 or younger. Overall, millennial marriages are not only exclusive in nature, but also more stable than their parents’. One sociology professor from a prominent university even recently predicted that this new marriage attitude will put the divorce rate on a continuous, sustained decline.

However, millennials in Tennessee who do end up divorcing may have significant worries on their mind. Since most spent much of their 20s building a career and accumulating wealth, a divorce could potentially compromise their future financial stability. As with all family law issues, individuals should pay careful attention to details and seek help when necessary to ensure the most favorable outcome possible.