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Divorce appears to be on the rise in some North Carolina cities

On Behalf of | Dec 5, 2016 | Family Law |

Divorce isn’t just expensive, it can also lead to serious stress and anxiety for your mental health and have a negative effect on your physical health. Even as divorce is such a negative experience, many choose to go through with it regardless of the difficulty. It is estimated that almost 50 percent of marriages in the United States end in divorce, making the United States 12th in line for the most divorces worldwide.

Since 1970, the divorce rate has increased drastically in every state each year. The national rate increased nearly three times from 1970 to 2010, showing that the problem is getting worse, not better.

Ranking North Carolina cities

When it comes to ranking the states with the highest divorce rates, three North Carolina cities come in higher than expected. In 1970, the divorce rate in Raleigh was 3.23 percent, versus the 9.76 percent in 2010. The divorce rate has grown 206.25 percent in 40 years and doesn’t show signs of stopping.

Charlotte is also a city where divorce rates are significantly on the rise. From 1970 to 2010, the divorce rate rose 209.09 percent, from 3.28 in 1970 to 10.18 in 2010. This gives Charlotte the city with the 9th highest divorce rate in the country.

Ranking even higher than Charlotte and Raleigh is Greensboro, North Carolina with a divorce rate growth of 260 percent over a period of 40 years. Greensboro started in 1970 at 3.02 percent and jumped to 10.83 percent by 2010.

Decreases

Of all the counties surveyed during this period of time, there was only one county in North Carolina that actually decreased its divorce rate from 1970 to 2010. The rate decreased by 1.8 percent even as the nationwide rate went from 3.4 percent in 1970 to 10.5 percent in 2010.

The takeaway

These statistics highlight the fact that each year, thousands of residents of North Carolina deal with the stressors that come from divorce. The anxiety, stress, financial concerns and frustration that come from divorce can be overwhelming, and it’s often tough to stay strong in front of someone you once loved.

When you are getting divorced, you must protect your best interests and those of your children. While you are reeling from the emotional trauma, it’s tough to focus on practical matters like child support, alimony and visitation. If you are thinking of getting divorced and wonder how to protect yourself, an attorney may be able to answer questions and walk you through the process so you are protected as much as possible.

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