There was a time when divorce was a taboo topic to discuss in New Jersey and throughout the country. Today, however, conversations about divorce trends, celebrity divorces and other family law topics are common on television, in the news and even around the dinner table. The Huffington Post even has an entire news site dedicated to dissecting happenings in the world of divorce. In fact, there is so much reported about divorce sagas and statistics that it can be difficult to digest.

Forbes recently published a list of 21st century divorce trends,along with explanations, in order to help share what is currently happening in our culture in terms of divorce.

1. The rate of divorce is declining. There are often conflicting reports about whether the divorce rate is high or low. The truth, according to Forbes, is that the number of divorces are declining. However, so is the number of marriages and these tend to go hand-in-hand.
2. The majority of divorces are initiated by women. There are many theories behind why this is happening, but it has been reported that this is linked to the increased social acceptance of divorce as well as a higher level of economic independence among women.
3. Divorce rates continue to rise among baby boomers. Divorce among those over 50 has become so common that its been given the moniker “grey divorce.” Grey divorce involves a number of tough issues like the division of retirement assets, which must be handled very carefully during divorce proceedings.
4. Children can be significantly affected by divorce. There are a number of statistics regarding this matter, as well as a wealth of information out there. Researchers continue to learn more about this and about how to ensure children are not unnecessarily harmed by divorce. It is always wise for parents to consider their children’s best interests when determining things like child custody arrangements and child support, and in many cases therapy or other steps may be wise.

Hopefully, this gives New Jersey residents a bit of context surrounding the numbers that are often thrown around about divorce. However, it is important to remember that each individual divorce involves unique concerns. Those who are going through a divorce may benefit from reading up on trends and studies, but it is still very wise to seek individualized legal counsel in order to help ensure that your interests are protected during and after the divorce.

Source: Forbes, “Not Your Mother’s Divorce: Three 21st Century Trends,” Jeff Landers, June 20, 2013