Family law concerns may arise as couples remain unmarried
The definition of the family setting has become more and more complex for many people in Orange County, California. In the past, many people would get married when they reached a certain age. Times have changed; however, and although the number of divorcing couples has already decreased, there is another thing that has been trending — unmarried couples who cohabitate.
Study results from Bowling Green University state that fewer American women are getting married and those who do marry at an older age compared with women in the past. According to the study, the marriage rate declined by nearly 60 percent from the 1970s, which was a period of different social movements, including empowerment of women. Recent data show that there are 31.1 marriages in every 1,000 unmarried women; in 1920, that number was 92.3 in every thousand. As for the higher marrying age, researchers confirm that the age for a woman to marry is 27, while it is 29 for men. The ages are based on when a person thinks he or she has achieved economic security.
Couples today deliberate about the economic implications of getting into a marital relationship. Because it is easier to live together, couples prefer to cohabitate rather than getting married. Many people are afraid to get married and eventually divorce, hence they do not commit to marrying. In America, 15 percent of women are divorced today, which is far from the one percent in the 1920s.
The changing view on the role of women and men in the marital home also affects the decline of marriage. Additionally, each spouse is seen as someone who can bring something to the table, economically.
Living together without being married can cause family law concerns in California. Cohabitation can be as advantageous. Although cohabitation is a choice between partners, the partners should be cautious about their rights in the relationship. Preparing a cohabitation agreement can be done with the help of a legal professional. The purpose of the document is to uphold the interests of the partners.
Source: The Blade, “Saying ‘I do’ not so common anymore,” Rose Russell, July 27, 2013
