Have you ever heard someone say that a young couple should wait a little bit longer to get married? Or perhaps you have heard people talk about how getting married at 32 is the ideal age. The average marriage age in the United States has gotten older over the years, so more and more people are getting married in their 30s.
Some research does suggest that a marriage at 32 has the lowest odds of divorce. For every year prior, the divorce odds go up by 11%. For every year after 32, those odds go up by 5%. So if someone is just looking for marital stability, 32 may be the ideal age to get married.
Why does this happen?
There are many different things that contribute to these divorce rates. For instance, a couple in their early 20s may still be in college, so they do not have a stable career. It is hard for them to support themselves if they get married so young, whereas a couple in their early 30s has far more financial security, which can provide stability to the marriage.
For older marriages, part of the issue is that second or third marriages tend to have higher divorce rates than first marriages. Some of the couples getting married in their 30s and 40s are in subsequent relationships, which are statistically more likely to lead to divorce. This pushes up the divorce rates for the overall age group.
Your rights during a divorce
While 32 may be the ideal age according to these studies, divorce can happen to couples who get married at any age. If you find yourself in this position, it is important to understand your legal rights when it comes to property division, child custody and more.