An Indianapolis Divorce Lawyer Discusses
Couples who meet online have a significantly higher chance of divorce within the first three years of marriage compared to those who don't, according to a new study.
Researchers note that as more and more people are finding love online, the divorce rate will likely increase. Right now, more than half of couples meet online.
Conducted by the Marriage Foundation, the study surveyed 2,000 married adults. Researchers found that 12% of couples who met online had divorced or were in the process within the first three years of marriage, compared to 2% of couples who met in person.
Indiana's Divorce Rate
In Indiana, the marriage rate is on par with the rest of the nation at 16.6 marriages per 1,000 females age 15 or older, but the divorce rate is higher.
Indiana is the state with the sixth-highest divorce rate in the U.S., according to the Census Bureau.
Here, the rate is 9.9 divorces per 1,000 females age 15 and older.
The national rate is 7.7.
Indiana is a no-fault divorce state. The end of a marriage may be granted on the grounds of the relationship being irretrievably broken. Filing for divorce is often enough proof of this breakdown.
It is not immediately clear to what degree online couple divorce rates affect Indiana.
Couples Most Likely To Divorce
Of all the places and situations people meet - work, school, through family and friends - the bar and club scene is the one most deeply affected by online dating, the study says.
Researchers tracked how married couples met from 1960 through 2017. They found that, in the 1980s, more than 40% of couples met each other in a bar or similar settings. Today, about 16% of married couples meet this way.
The study also measured which meeting method has the highest chance of divorce. For this information, the study considers first-time marriages only. Second and subsequent marriages were not analyzed for this particular data point.
Here's what the future holds for couples within the first 10 years of marriage:
- 24% of couples who met at work will get a divorce
- 20% who met online will get a divorce
- 19% bars
- 15% family, friends, neighbors
- 13% school, college, university
Explaining the Divorce Rate
The study's authors suggest that the divorce rate is higher among people who meet online because they are initially strangers. It takes a lot longer to establish a person's background and personality without input from reliable people who know that person - friends, family, work colleagues, or others in the community.
A different study, this one by 24/7 Wall Street, says that Indiana has a higher than average rate of divorce due to financial hardships. Indiana has a lower median income compared to other states. Financial stress and debt are relationship killers.
Indiana has a high divorce rate, but it's not all doom and gloom. The Hoosier State can be very hospitable to romance and long-lasting relationships. About 40% of our overall population is married.
Divorce Attorneys Serving Indiana
Whether you meet online or in real life, the end of a marriage is often painful and difficult. If not done correctly, it can also be expensive.
At Hocker Law, LLC, our experienced Indianapolis divorce attorneys will take your needs seriously. If it's important to you, it's important to us. Our law firm serves all of Indiana and we have a strong reputation for getting positive results.
If you are considering a divorce or want to start the process, contact us today for a free consultation.