According to the Census Bureau, 9 percent of adults in New Jersey are divorced. This represents the lowest figure of any state in the country. What is responsible for this statistic? According to a number of experts, the answer lies in the state’s demographic composition.

Studies have shown that more marriages tend to last where couples wed at a later age, are well-educated and have good incomes. New Jersey couples typically do well on all three measures. Across the country, men marry for the first time at a median age of 28.9, and women at 26.9. In New Jersey, however, the median ages are 30.2 and 28.5, respectively. Sandwiched by two major metropolitan areas, New Jersey also offers high-paying jobs to people with impressive educational résumés.

Some have suggested that the recession is delaying divorces that would otherwise happen. Marriage creates economies of scale and where couples cannot maintain separate finances, the reasoning goes, spouses will stay together for the sake of convenience. This argument would explain why divorces are down across the country, but unless New Jersey has been unusually hard-hit by the recession relative to other states, it would not show why New Jersey has a uniquely low divorce rate.

The correlation among divorce rate, age at first marriage, education and income is certainly interesting. Despite these factors in their favor, however, some couples in New Jersey will decide that it is best if they end their relationship. In these instances, couples need to know how to handle issues that will inevitably come up in a divorce.

Because New Jersey couples tend to wed later, couples may have accumulated significant assets and property prior to the marriage. Separating and dividing property can therefore be a complex issue. In addition, couples will have to think about alimony and, if they have become parents, child support and custody.

Source: The New York Times, “Want Your Union to Last? Marry in New Jersey,” Sam Roberts, Oct. 12, 2012

• Divorcing couples must also take tax considerations into account when working through financial issues. You can learn more by visiting our Kingston divorce page.