3 things that make divorce more likely

In some cases, you can identify life events that increase your odds of divorce. This doesn’t guarantee that divorce will happen, but it does mean that it is more likely for you at that time.

This can be helpful because it gives you a chance to plan ahead and get things in order. You may need to gather documentation or consider your legal options. So what are some life events that may mean it’s time to start thinking about the end of your marriage?

Losing your job

Some studies have found that people who lose their job are more likely to get divorced. This could be due to financial instability. Losing a job could create financial stress, meaning that your spouse may file for a divorce as it means to alleviate that stress.

Getting sick

Other studies have looked at sickness or serious illness and found that some couples are more likely to get divorced when one of them is diagnosed. Specifically, there seems to be an increase in the divorce rate in heterosexual marriages when the wife gets sick – but not necessarily when the husband is the one who suffers from the ailment.

Becoming empty nesters

Finally, there has been a rise in gray divorce over the last decade. One reason for this is that many couples become empty nesters when their children move out of the house, often when they go to college. This can cause serious changes to the couple’s personal relationship, and that may lead to divorce. Some couples discover that they have been drifting apart but their children were enough of a distraction that they didn’t notice it before.

If you and your spouse do decide to get a divorce this year, that means it’s time to look into all of the proper legal steps to take regarding property division, allocation of parenting time and much more.