Arons & Solomon Divorce Lawyers | March 5, 2025 | Divorce in Hackensack, NJ
To say that marriage has changed would be a bit of an understatement. Twenty years ago, couples’ challenges included things like sharing a bathroom or agreeing on dinner. Today’s newlyweds juggle constant distractions, from endless work notifications to social media pressures.
It is because of these changes to married life that, instead of having real conversations, many newlyweds find themselves living parallel lives through separate screens. And that can put a strain on a marriage not long after it begins. In fact, when couples split up in their first year of marriage, it usually happens around seven months after the wedding.
First Marriage Divorce Rate
How many marriages end in divorce? The good news is that the answer is less than it once was. The divorce rate in America has indeed been going down. 25 years ago, an average of four divorces took place for every 1,000 people. By 2022, that number dropped to 2.4 divorces per 1,000 people.
Asking “How common is divorce?” on the other hand, still brings up some unfortunate trends. About two in ten first marriages end within their first five years, with some of them falling apart in their first year. As such, even though fewer people are getting divorced overall, early divorces continue to be common.
Why First-Year Marriages Often Fail
Most marriages don’t end early on because of big, dramatic problems.
Instead, it’s the everyday issues that cause irreparable rifts, such as the following:
- Poor communication (which is, in fact, the number one reason couples give when divorcing in their first year)
- Money becoming a daily challenge as couples learn to share bills and handle spending together (4 out of every 10 divorces during the first year)
- Problems coming up with in-laws and family members that no one expected
- Partners discovering annoying habits they didn’t notice while dating
- Conflicts arising from the two already living together before getting married
Often, the biggest reason why these couples separate is finding out they aren’t ready for the challenges of married life. These problems might seem easy to fix on their own, but usually, they all happen at the same time, making it very hard for couples to adjust.
How Many Divorces Per Year Impact Bergen County?
Bergen County follows New Jersey’s pattern of fewer divorces over time. From 2012 to 2022, New Jersey’s divorce rate dropped from 6.7 to 5.2 divorces per 1,000 people.
It’s a shift that shows things are improving, but local couples still face distinct challenges, including the following:
- High living costs, which force them to make tough financial decisions early on
- Struggling to balance long work hours in the city
- Stronger family tension in close-knit communities
- Different cultures and backgrounds
Without proper systems in place, new couples in Bergen County crack under these pressures.
More Basic Facts About First-Year Divorces
The average couple spends 200-300 hours planning their wedding, yet less than ten hours genuinely discussing their future lives together. Unfortunately, society has elaborate rituals around getting married but almost no structure for helping couples get through that all-important first year.
Nevertheless, couples should have those tough conversations early on, especially regarding how to carry on in the event of divorce.
Discuss prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, the possibility of counseling or mediation when dealing with overwhelming differences, and your children’s welfare (if applicable). Having these talks helps you anticipate some of the common challenges that end new marriages.
Maintaining Relationships Through the First Year of Marriage
Couples need to acknowledge the support and attention they need in the first year of marriage. While the data shows that a good number of marriages end in that first year, the larger percentage is still comprised of those who succeed.
Research also shows that couples who get through the first few years are more likely to last in marriage; putting in the effort early on, therefore, clearly pays off.
Contact the Bergen County Family and Divorce Law Firm of Arons & Solomon Divorce Lawyers for more help
Contact the experienced family attorneys at Arons & Solomon Divorce Lawyers today for legal assistance. Visit our law office in Bergen County or give us a call at (201) 487-1199 to schedule a free consultation with our team.
Bergen County Law Office
1 University Plaza Dr #400, Hackensack, NJ 07601, United States