Does Living Together Before Marriage Lead to Divorce?

An article in the Washington Post cited a study that found that those couples who live together before marriage are more likely to get a divorce than those people who wait until marriage to live together.

But does living together actually affect a couple’s chances of having a long and happy marriage? Not everyone thinks so. Some people think there are other factors that can easily influence whether a couple does or does not file for divorce.

For example, some people’s religious beliefs say it’s inappropriate to live together before marriage, so those people wait until they’re married to cohabitate. Those same religious beliefs may also say divorce is wrong, so when problems arise, strict religious principles keep unhappily married couples in their marriage because they believe it’s wrong to divorce.

We also shouldn’t discredit the fact that some marriages don’t work simply because the people in the marriage don’t get along. Can living together really be to blame? Or is it that people change or personalities just don’t click?

When it comes down to it, every couple is different. It’s impossible to say that one way of living is best for all couples. As long as you and your partner are committed to each other and value the sanctity of marriage, there is no reason why you wouldn’t have a chance at a successful marriage, even if you lived together before you got married or engaged.

An experienced family law attorney can provide you with more information about the divorce and marriage trends in your state and throughout the county. To locate an attorney near you, click here to search for a family lawyer in your area.