Financial Statistics Reveal Compelling Divorce Data
The Financial and Emotional Impact for Kids of Divorce – What do the Statistics Really Say?
I have always found statistics and research studies quite interesting. I like to look at them to see how they compare to my own perceptions and life experiences.
As a divorce lawyer for 40 plus years, and publisher of the Ohio Family Law Blog since 2009, keeping on top of divorce trends is something I enjoy doing. In searching the internet recently, I came across the website www.financesonline.com. I found this website to have an amazingly broad aggregation of divorce related information and statistics (including footnotes to their sources). I spent a fair amount of time reading it and thought sharing the link might be worthwhile to our blog readers. Here is a sample section. Perhaps it will pique your interest!
EFFECTS OF DIVORCE ON CHILDREN:
- Divorced spouses evade over 30% of child support payments, with less than 50% paid in full. (Leefeldt, 2019)
- Moreover, only 43.5% of custodial parents receive full support from their former spouses. (Leefeldt, 2019)
- In addition, more than $10 billion in child support payments in the US go uncollected. (Leefeldt, 2019)
- 26.5% of children below 21 years old have a parent living in a different home. This amounts to 21.9 million kids. (Grall, 2020)
- 30.1% of these kids are in poverty. (Grall, 2020)
- On average, the annual child support payment in the US is $5,519, or around $460 per month. Meanwhile, the median annual amount is $4,356. (Grall, 2020)
- Happily married parents decrease their kids’ likelihood of divorce by 14%. (Wilkinson & Finkbeiner, 2020)
- Children of parents who fought a lot are more likely to get divorced themselves than kids with divorced parents. (McDowell, 2020)
- 67% of Americans believe that divorce is better for kids than them witnessing the problems in a troubled marriage. (McDowell, 2020)
[For the authority for these statistics, click on the link shared above to the FinancesOnline website. Further, I am not attesting to the validity of these figures – I found them interesting.]
Financial Considerations Vs. The Emotional Side
I can attest to the fact that clients with children are constantly trying to grapple with what is best for them and their children. Financial considerations are of course very important. Since the focus of this website is on finances, they don’t really deal with the emotional side of divorcing, including how critically important it is to be happy and have a positive mental outlook.
I will post a companion article shortly highlighting the emotional component of deciding to divorce or not to divorce. After all, while finances are important, it is just one part of the equation!
Experienced, Trusted and Professional Dayton Divorce Lawyers
Our experienced Dayton divorce lawyers at Holzfaster, Cecil, McKnight & Mues can assist you with your divorce or dissolution related issues. To learn more, please go to our website at www.hcmmlaw.com or call us at 937 293-2141. We can schedule an in-person conference or one by phone or Zoom. We look forward to assisting you!
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Attorney Robert “Chip” Mues has been focusing his legal practice throughout Southwest Ohio primarily in divorce and family law matters since 1978. Chip is passionate about family law and has proudly published the Ohio Family Law Blog since 2007. In addition, he is the managing partner of Holzfaster, Cecil, McKnight & Mues. To learn more about him or the law firm, visit the firm’s website at www.hcmmlaw.com. Appointments are available in person, over the phone or by Zoom. Call us at 937 293-2141.
