Many things could, in theory, lead to divorce. Financial stress. Infidelity. Addiction. These are just a few examples. You may not have much control over some of them; if your spouse gets addicted to gambling or isn’t faithful to the marriage, it puts you in a tough position.
One thing that you can control, though, is when you get married. Doing it when you’re too young could make divorce more likely.
For instance, if you are 25 years old when you tie the knot, the odds that you will split up are 50 percent less than what they are for someone who is 20 years old when they get married. If you decide to get married as a teenager — you’re a legal adult at 18 — then you take a significant risk.
Why is this? Again, there are many potential reasons, but a few of them include:
- You don’t have that much life experience at 18.
- You probably do not have a high-paying job and you could run into financial problems.
- Brain development does not even finish until your mid-20s.
- You have a lot of stress from school as you work toward a career; your school may also dictate where you need to live.
- You and your spouse may feel similar and in love when you’re young, but you could grow apart over time.
The statistics tell the story. While some young marriages last, many do not. They’re very fragile. Those who wind up heading toward divorce in Michigan need to know exactly what legal steps to take as their lives move on to this next important chapter.