In the market for a divorce lawyer – this lady has a great slogan.

Life’s short – get a divorce.

Don’t be scared by all these facts and figures. All you need to do is breathe and skim your eyes down the page.

I just want you to know…there are lots of people walking the same road as you…..

Divorce rate in the United States

• In 1998 2.2 million couples married and 1.1 million couples divorced.
• In 2000 58 million couples were married, yet separated.
• In 2000 there were over 21 million divorces.Divorce rate United States
• People between the ages of 25 to 39 make up 60% of all divorces.
• Over one million children are affected by divorce each year.
• Approximately 1/3 of divorced parents remain bitter and hostile several years after the divorce.Di Divorce rate United States vorce Statistics United States
• In 1990 the average female age for re-marriage after divorce was 30.6 years; for males, 33.7 years of age.Divorce rate United States
• In 1990 the average female age for a second divorce was 37.3 years; for males, 40.4 years of age.Divorce rate United States
• More people are part of second marriages today than first marriages.
• One-quarter of all Americans have experienced at least one divorce.

Divorce rate is generally calculated by comparing the number of divorces with the number of marriages in a given time period.

• In the United States in 1999 there were 8.4 marriages and 4.2 divorces per 1,000 total population. Divorce rate United States
• Thus it can be seen that in 1999 there was one divorce for every two marriages in the United States, a “crude” divorce rate of 50%. The Rutgers National Marriage Project (marriage.rutgers.edu) bases their review of divorce trends on the number of marriages per 1000 unmarried women 15 years of age or older, and the number of divorces per 1000 married women in the same age bracket. Divorce rate United States
• This look at divorce in relation to the population of marriageable age rather than the population as a whole produces a slightly lower divorce rate.Divorce rate United States
• However they note, “Overall, the chances remain very high?close to 50 percent?that a marriage started today will end in either divorce or permanent separation.”Divorce rate United States

Divorce rate no longer collected in America.

In 1970, 68 percent of adults lived as married couples. That percentage declined steadily to 56 percent today. Additionally, more than 1 million divorces have occurred annually since the late 1970s, and cohabitation accounted for more than four million couples in 1997 (Washington Times, 6/6/99). The epidemics of divorce, cohabitation and unwed childbearing must be addressed forthrightly.Divorce rate United States

However, combating these societal ailments with strong research will prove to be an immense challenge in the near future. Why? The U.S. government is no longer collecting comprehensive, detailed statistics on marriage and divorce.

Divorce rate data no collected.Divorce rate United States

The federal government has stopped collecting (Washington Times, 6/6/99):

• marriage and divorce rateDivorce rate United States
• trends in the age at marriage or divorceDivorce rate United States
• number of previous marriages Divorce rate United States
• number of children a couple had before divorce Divorce rate United States
• duration of marriage Divorce rate United States
• trends by race or education Divorce rate United States

• Since the introduction of “no-fault divorce” in Canada 30 years ago, the rate of marital break-up has soared 600%. Divorce rate Canada
• A third of marriages fail, and over a third of those break-ups involve children. Divorce rate Canada
• One-fifth of Canadian children have lost a parent to divorce, with an effect that some sociologists now say can be “worse than a parent’s death.” Divorce rate Canada
• Divorce is consistently associated with juvenile emotional disorders, crime, suicide, promiscuity and later marital break-up. Divorce rate Canada

• In 2002, the number of divorces granted in the UK increased by 1.9 per cent, from 157,000 in 2001 to 160,000. This is the highest number of divorces since 1997, but still 11 per cent less than the peak of 180,000 in 1993.Divorce rate in England

   

• In 1961 there were 27,000 divorces in Great Britain which had doubled by 1969 to 56,000. It then doubled again by 1972, to 125,000 in both Great Britain and the United Kingdom. This latter increase was partly a ‘one-off’ effect of the Divorce Reform Act 1969 in England and Wales, which came into effect in 1971.Divorce rate in England

   

• In England and Wales, 70 per cent of divorces in 2002 were to couples where both parties were in their first marriage. The corresponding proportion was 80 per cent in 1982. This downward trend largely reflects the fall in the number of first marriages. Divorce rate in England

   

• Over the last 10 years the average age at divorce in England and Wales has risen from 39 to 42 years for men and from 36 to 39 years for women, partly reflecting the rise in age at marriage.Divorce rate in England

   

• In 2002 the most frequent fact on which divorce was granted to a woman in England and Wales was the unreasonable behaviour of her husband, while for a man, it was separation for two years with consent.

   

• Demographic factors associated with an increased risk of subsequent divorce include marrying at a younger than average age, having a pre-marital birth, and having previously been divorced. Divorce rate in England

• There were 55,300 divorces granted in Australia in 2001, the highest number granted in the last 20 years. This was an increase of 5,400 on the number of divorces granted in 2000 and an increase of 13,900 on 1981.Divorce rate in Australia
• However, since 1981 divorce rate, while fluctuating, have shown an increasing trend. In 1987 the divorce rate was at a low of 11 divorces per 1,000 married population. Since 1987, divorce rate, while still fluctuating, have shown an upward trend to a high of 13 in 1996. The divorce rate in 2000 was 12.Divorce rate in Australia
• The crude divorce rate in Australia was 2.8 per 1,000 population in 2001. It was lower than the United States of America (4.2 per 1,000 in 1998) and the United Kingdom (2.9 in 1996) and higher than New Zealand (2.7 in 1998) and Canada (2.3 in 1997). Divorce rate in Australia
• The likelihood of a marriage ending in divorce is increasing. If the 1997-1999 rate for marriage, widowing, divorce, remarriage and mortality were applied to a newly-born group of babies 32% of their marriages would end in divorce. This is an increase on the proportion expected if 1985-1987 rate were applied (28%). Divorce rate in Australia
• In line with the increasing age at marriage the median age at divorce also rose. In 2001 the median age at divorce for men was 42 years (up from 36 years in 1981) and 39 years for women (up from 33 years in 1981).Divorce rate in Australia
• In 2001, 17% of couples had divorced within the first five years of marriage, while a further 26% had divorced in the following five-year period. The most common single interval between marriage and divorce was between five and six years (6%). In 2001 the median duration of marriage to divorce was 12 years, up from 10 years in 1981.Divorce rate in Australia
• For most of the 20th century there was a slow but steady rise in the divorce rate, increasing from annual averages of 0.1 divorces per 1,000 population between 1901 and 1910 to 0.8 per 1,000 between 1961 and 1970.Divorce rate in Australia
• However, the most important factor involved in the higher divorce rate in the latter quarter of the century was the introduction of the Family Law Act 1975 (Cwlth) which came into operation on 5 January 1976. This legislation allows only one ground for divorce: irretrievable breakdown of the marriage, measured as the separation of the spouses for at least one year. Divorce rate in Australia
• Following the implementation of this law, there was a large increase in the divorce rate in 1976.
• The rate then declined until 1979 as the backlog of applications was cleared.Divorce rate in Australia
• Since then the crude divorce rate has fluctuated between 2.4 and 2.9 divorces per 1,000 population . Divorce rate in Australia
• The crude divorce rate in 2001 was 2.8 per 1,000 population.Divorce rate in Australia
• The pattern of divorces per 1,000 married couples is very similar; in 2000 there were 12.0 divorces per 1,000 married men or women.Divorce rate in Australia

The sharp rise in the number of divorces in the early 1980s mainly reflects the legislative changes introduced in 1981. The Family Proceedings Act 1980, passed in 1981, meant that an application for marriage dissolution could be made by either the husband or wife on the grounds that the marriage had broken down irreconcilably, provided a two-year separation requirement was satisfied.Divorce rate in New Zealand

• Many couples who could satisfy the two-year separation requirement for the single ground of irreconcilable marriage breakdown sought the simpler Family Court dissolution. Divorce rate in New Zealand
• Consequently, divorces recorded a temporary high of 12,395 in 1982. Subsequently, both the number and rate of marriage dissolutions dropped, but the trend has been upward again since the late 1980s.Divorce rate in New Zealand
• In 2001, the Family Courts granted 9,683 marriage dissolution orders . 16 or 0.2 percent fewer than the number granted in 2000 (9,699). Divorce rate in New Zealand
• Data for the last seven years suggest the number of divorces have plateaued, with an average of around 9,800 divorces per year during 1995. 2001. Divorce rate in New Zealand
• The divorce rate (number of divorces per 1,000 estimated existing marriages), which rose sharply in the mid-1990s, also appears to be experiencing a respite from its upward trend. Divorce rate in New Zealand
• In 2001 the divorce rate stood at 12.2 per 1,000 existing marriages . the same as in 2000. During the late 1980s the rate averaged 11.8 per 1,000. It fluctuated around 12.0 during the early 1990s and around 12.5 per 1,000 during the late 1990s.Divorce rate in New Zealand
• A significant proportion of marriages in New Zealand last for a relatively short time (Figure 3.03).Divorce rate in New Zealand
• Divorces are most common among couples who had been married for between five and nine years. They accounted for one-quarter of all divorces in 2001.Divorce rate in New Zealand
• Almost two out of every five marriages dissolved in 2001 had lasted for less than 10 years. Divorce rate in New Zealand
• Annual Divorce rate, however, tend to exaggerate the incidence of marriage break-up. Divorce rate in New Zealand
• Analysis of Divorce rate by year of marriage shows that 70 percent of couples who married in 1975 were still together in 2001. For those married in 1967 and 1971, the corresponding figures were 74 and 71 percent respectively.Divorce rate in New Zealand
• For about two-thirds of couples, death, not divorce, will end their marriage.Divorce rate in New Zealand

Divorces Statistics By Duration of Marriage in New Zealand

Divorce rate : Age at divorce in New Zealand

The rise in age at divorce is continuing. This partly reflects the increased duration of marriage, and partly the marked trend towards later marriages, which started in the early 1970s. Divorce rate in New Zealand

• The median age at divorce in 2001 was 41.9 years for men and 39.3 years for women.Divorce rate in New Zealand
• Divorcees were, on average, three years older than those whose marriages dissolved a decade ago, in 1991. Divorce rate in New Zealand
• The median ages then were 39.0 years for males and 36.2 years for females.Divorce rate in New Zealand
• For women, divorce continues to be most common among those aged 25. 29 years, with 22.0 divorces per 1,000 existing marriages, compared to 20.5 per 1,000 for those aged 30. 34, and 19.6 for the 20. 24 year-olds. Divorce rate in New Zealand
• Among men, the most common age for divorce is 30. 34 years, although in 2001, men aged 25. 29 years had the same level of divorce as those aged 30. 34 years at 20.9 divorces per 1,000 existing marriages.
• Men aged 35. 39 years had the next highest divorce rate of 19.3 per 1,000.Divorce rate in New Zealand
• Half the marriages dissolved in 2001 had lasted about 13 years compared with the median duration of 12 years for marriages that ended in divorce in 1991. Divorce rate in New Zealand
• The upturn in the median duration of marriage may be partly attributed to the rising age at marriage and the breakdown of more long-term marriages, particularly those of more than 25 years.Divorce rate in New Zealand
• In 2001, 17.2 percent of all divorces were to people who had been married for 25 years or more, compared with 12.5 percent a decade earlier.

(from Statistics New Zealand)

Have you ever wondered if you are a slow learner, a touch blind, or have you just been wearing some very heavy blinkers? Petal, the wake-up call, well it’s often a shock, even if you are the one doing the leaving.”

“Why? Just bloody, why? Why didn’t we see it coming. Then we could have ‘fixed’ it, surely.”

Did you get a ‘nasty’ surprise? Come, tell Roxy, what shoved you, once and for always, out of matrimony? Or is it a who…?”

“Once again I’ll get the ball rolling. Oh and don’t I love to roll a good ball, mmm…”"Once again I’ll get the ball rolling. Oh and don’t I love to roll a good ball, mmm…”

“I’m here to chat with you about life’s BIG wake-up call – divorce.

Why so much fuss, this divorce business? We’ve all had relationship bust-ups before?Right? One, two, three hundred? So have you ever asked yourself – what’s the BIG deal – divorce? Just another break-up?”

“Ha, I can hear the howling – ‘Noo, noo, noo – super bitch, psycho bastard, it’s about the kids, the betrayal, the money…!!!’”

Come my lovelies, let’s off load and explore… What it is that makes divorce so ugly that the mere mention of the word is enough to make your hackles rise?”

“Let me start by sharing some of my more censored thoughts with you – “

“As you can see…I’m a Divorcee.”

They were her first words, her first moment. With a beta-blocker in her system and a bay leaf in her shoe, she took a deep breath and was born…..

There was a leer in her voice as she turned on the six inch stiletto heel of her thigh high black boots, in her overly skin-tight and just a bit too short black dress, to face the audience.

“You know, I turned 40 recently and I’m loving it.” She paused for a moment to let the wolf whistles abate.

“After all these years, I’ve finally worked out that I get more erotic satisfaction,” she paused again, to deliver the words with breathy deliberation, “from shopping than I do from sex.”

“And what a multiple orgasm means to ME. It is when the shirt and the skirt I’m desirous of, BOTH go on sale!”

Her eyes went skyward and she made a small sound of pleasure as the audience cheered again.

“The other thing I like about being 40 is that I’ve finally learned how to masturbate properly. I do it with my credit card.” She held her hands as if holding an invisible card, and moved them suggestively backwards and forwards in front of her pelvic region.

“Kach-ing. Ka-ching”

“You know speaking of credit cards, I went down to the Cheeky Adult Fun World the other day… and bought the point of sale scanner. I’m getting a tattoo. I thought, a nice little barcode across my clitoris…”

“Hmm, imagine the possibilities.” Again her hands moved, this time in time from side to side across her swaying hips. “Beep Ooh…Beep aaah!”

As she took a gulp of her champagne and continued her performance, there was not a sign left of the mother and wife who’d once religiously ironed her tea towels.

“I’ve finally found a Barbie I like. She is called Divorce Barbie. She comes with everything – including Ken’s stuff”.

Who was this outrageous creature? She had arrived in the world fully formed, the moment I stepped on stage. Where did she come from? She certainly wasn’t me, I didn’t behave that way.

It was like the scene in the first Terminator movie. The one where Arnold Schwarzenegger appears from nowhere, naked, after a lightning bolt strike.

And all I could do was look on in wonder as she delivered her final line.

Looking as though butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth, she delivered her ‘piece de la resistance’ shocking me more than anyone else in the room.

“I’m currently in a spot of bother. I’m under investigation by the Tax department. They can’t seem to understand how I could accumulate so many assets with only one c**t working for me!”

Stepping down, relief swept over me. I’d made it through the most grueling ten minutes of my life. Publicly stripped bare by my own words.

With shaking knees, I headed towards the bar.

Delivered to me in an American twang came the first inkling of how much life was going to change.

“Hey Roxy Rock star. You HAVE got to let me buy you a drink.”

I turned to chastise this brash Yankee for being so presumptuous. How dare he throw a name at this skanky costume?

But then, as he appeared beside me, I caught an eyeful of his tall ‘drop dead’ gorgeousness and instantly reconsidered. ‘What the hey? If it works?’ It has been a long time since anyone this handsome bought me a drink.

I decided to accept the name and any thing else he had on offer.

“Why not?” the Roxy in me smiled ever so sweetly and purred “I’ll have a margarita. Oh, and a shot of tequila on the side. I’m always up for a bit on the side…”

Dear listeners – while you are coming to terms with the arrival of the magnificent Roxy – here is something I stumbled upon today.

Can’t find any words to explain it really……

Apparently they are called mirkins.

Stay tuned – things are going to get interesting.

There’s a saying that I like – a lot.

They say, when one door closes, another opens but it is Hell in the Hallway in between.

Is there any more perfect way to describe divorce?

Here’s a good way to kick off this crazy dance we call love.

Surely by now, everyone has seen the JK wedding dance on Youtube. If you haven’t yet, take a look.

And then take a look at JK Divorce Dance.

Not much more we need to say really………..