Much of the data today suggests that around 40% of all marriages end in divorce, as opposed to the popular belief over the last several decades that divorce is the end result of at least half of all marriages. Even though it may seem like a recent trend, the concept of divorce has actually been around in history for much longer than the last century, and it has always been at the forefront of many spouses’ minds. Here are some interesting facts about divorce and its evolution throughout history:

A Brief History of Divorce

Believe it or not, the idea of divorce may have been around for as long as the institution of marriage itself. For instance, King Henry VIII asked the Pope to let him divorce Catherine of Aragon. After the Pope refused, Henry VIII divorced her anyway, remarrying Anne Boleyn instead, and this would prove to be the catalyst for the Church of England separating from the Roman Catholic Church. Overall, people’s perceptions of divorce and the laws surrounding the dissolution of marriage have changed and evolved over the years in a variety of ways, including:

• Divorce saw one of its earliest spikes in North America during the American Revolution. The same ideology of personal liberty that contributed to the country’s founding did not just color people’s visions of government; it also affected how they viewed marital vows.

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Governor Pritzker has extended the Illinois Stay-at-Home Order through the end of May, and it could potentially last even longer. While some states are phasing into opening more parts of their economies, Illinois remains focused on the safety of its residents, only allowing essential workers to work outside of their homes. As the unemployment claims keep rolling in, it might be easy to feel like the country, or at least the state, is in the midst of an economic recession or depression. How might this new economic reality in Illinois affect divorce rates?

The Many Potential Effects of a Recession on Divorce Rates

Will an economic recession decrease or increase divorce rates? While a strong case could be made for either outcome, the truth is that this is a nuanced issue. In studying divorce rates before, during, and after the last major recession over the last 10 to 15 years, researchers have found that there is no clear, substantial, and overwhelming data that supports either outcome. In many cases, the likelihood of divorce is dependent upon each family’s living situation. For example, divorce rates might increase as a result of a recession because:

• Foreclosures, bankruptcies, and other financial stressors have taken a tremendous toll on the marriage.

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While there are many legitimate reasons to postpone or cancel a divorce due to pregnancy, a person may have some compelling reasons to get divorced while pregnant. As difficult as it may be to end your marriage when you are already dealing with the stresses and expectations of impending parenthood, divorce may be the best overall choice for your family. Here is a closer look at the potential benefits of getting a divorce while you or your spouse are pregnant:

Reasons to Divorce While Pregnant

If you are considering a divorce while pregnant and are worried about the consequences, consider these positive aspects of taking such an action:

• Your Child Will Not Have to Live Through the Divorce Itself—If you get a divorce while pregnant, you do not have to worry about the difficulties your child may face when shifting from having two parents in the same home caring for him or her to receiving care from parents in two separate homes. Researchers estimate that it can take children about two years to fully adjust to a divorce, on average. If your child is born into a single-parent home, or if you and the other parent will be sharing parenting time from the beginning of the child’s life, he or she will not need to make this adjustment.

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Since divorces are “no-fault” in Illinois, a person can end their marriage for any reason they choose. There is no legal obligation for a spouse to justify this decision, as there had been in the past. However, couples may still need to recognize when certain issues or concerns may lead to divorce, including common major life events. When a couple is faced with major changes in their lives, it can be difficult to adapt to this new reality, causing stress on the relationship or exacerbating the problems that were already there, which could lead to divorce.

8 Major Life Events That Can Contribute to Divorce

Excluding any of the typical reasons for a divorce that have more to do with the relationship itself, such as infidelity, here are some common major life events that may lead to divorce:

1. End of Earlier Parenting Years—A common life change that people do not realize has a major effect on a marriage is that time period when the couple transitions from constant parenting (from babyhood through kindergarten) to less and less parenting (from elementary school through college). As the chaos of a child’s early developmental years subsides, and parental responsibilities become less time-consuming, spouses will have more time to address relationship issues that may have existed prior to the child’s birth, or they may reflect on their relationship in ways they were too busy to do before. If issues that exist in the relationship cannot be resolved, divorce may be necessary.

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A recent survey found that 39% of people state that debt and other financial issues were a major factor that contributed to their divorce. It is no wonder that bankruptcy and divorce are so closely linked—not only can divorce itself often cost more money than many people expect, but the financial ramifications of the divorce are felt long after the proceedings are complete. From the division of marital debt to simply adjusting to living on a single income, life after divorce can get expensive. But that does not mean you have to file for bankruptcy. Here are some tips for keeping your finances in order after your marriage has ended:

6 Ways to Prevent Bankruptcy Following Divorce

While there are some things you can do to avoid bankruptcy that are common to just about any person, divorced or not, there are also some special things that you can do to protect yourself against bankruptcy when you are divorced. Some examples include:

1. Increase Your Income—This is probably one of the very first tips a financial advisor will tell you if you are considering bankruptcy. Are there any ways for you to increase the money you make? The more money you have coming in, the less likely it will be that you will drown in debt. You may want to take on extra jobs (part time or otherwise), seek a promotion or a raise at work, rent out your house, sell your valuables, or borrow from family and friends if necessary.

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