It appears that in modern times, the institution of marriage is unstable and the nuclear family, once a common familial arrangement, is now a rarity. The idea that 50% of marriages today wind up splitting is an unconfirmed myth. Though the statistic is not necessarily true, there is a lot to be said about the stability of marriage when the general population finds that statistic believable.
Voltaire has stated once that “Divorce probably dates from the same time as marriage. I think, however, that marriage is a few weeks older.” When we think about our past, we remember that marriage was once a bond broken only by death and that couples stayed together because they were religiously and legally obligated rather than that they had no desire to separate. Voltaire’s quote may sound bitter, but it throws open the strong cynical aspects about how seriously humans view their marriage with involvement and concern.
Broken marriages are not a modern phenomenon – far from it. A couple in Ancient Greece could legally separate if the party seeking the separation had a reasonable explanation as to why the marriage couldn’t work.
The responsibility and authority of studying their statements and considering how strongly they support the cause of divorce, lies with the magistrate. Elements of the Grecian process still exist, including fault/no fault statements.
But what are the chances that a couple will stay in a committed relationship these days with the option of separation on the table? Statistically, most marriages break apart prior to the 15th anniversary and most between just four or 7 years of marriage. Young couples or those who have been married before are generally more likely to dissolve their marriages earlier than average.
Maybe they think, rightly or wrongly, that divorce will solve all their problems. They may even presume that their life afterwards will be better without their other half because they will be free to do what they please. Countless persons have found that not only was the procedure injurious but the problems persisted even after their dissolution of marriage.
When a marriage fails it typically impacts each member of the marriage adversely. Even the party who initiates the separation can become severely depressed following the breakdown of a marriage. At times people grow depressed with the realization that the ideal mate is only a dream. Women who divorce after turning 30 find that dating is intimidating and overwhelming and because of this, forty percent do not remarry.
Zsa Zsa Gabor said, “I am an excellent housekeeper. Every time I get divorced, I keep the house!” Most people take their marriages very seriously, despite this image of marriage as a disposable or temporary relationship. The breakdown of marriage scares people because it seems to be more the rule than the exception. But, this is simply not true. It is surely more common now than ever before, yet surprisingly, it is still frowned upon as a failure of the couple. At times marriages fail to continue to be healthy and must be dissolved for the sake of all parties to the marriage.
If you find this interesting, you can learn more about my practice as an good Austin TX family law lawyer. You can also watch the Austin Texas Divorce Guide Audio CD at www.TruslerLegal.com. If you haven’t found the information you need, you can see our questions about divorce in Austin TX.