How has the divorce process changed over time?

Getting a divorce in the past was really complicated. For example, in the 1900s it was really difficult to get a divorce. You had to prove that your spouse was cheating on you, abusing you or willfully not taking care of you. Divorce was also terribly frowned upon in the past. Wives also had very few rights in the past. Getting a divorce is still really hard emotionally but it's much easier now in the 21st century to get a divorce than it was 100 years ago. Nowadays divorce can be really quick and easy. Everyone has a say and both parties are heard. Even with the click of a button, you can get an online divorce.

Let's take a look at how the divorce process has changed over time.  During the 1800s the divorce rate was 0.3 per 1000 Americans. This is amount is nothing in comparison with the number of divorces happening today. This statistic shows how difficult it was to actually get a divorce in the past. Many people in the 1800’s usually wanted a divorce to move up in social class or for financial gain. But divorce was incredibly rare back then and it was viewed as a scandal. The poor wife was also always to blame for divorce back then.

In 1848 in New York, The Married Women's Property Act was passed. Before this, women had almost no claim to any property during a divorce. Men were the only ones who owned any assets, as most women during this time period did not work. Therefore, divorce was a terrible move for a woman, as they would end up not gaining financially at all. This Act that was passed allowed women to have more rights to the property during a divorce. Other states soon followed suit with this Act.

During the 1920s the divorce rate had risen to 15% in the United States. It was still really difficult to get a divorce and divorced women were viewed as scandalous. During the 1950s and 1960s family courts were created. This was a fantastic move in the world of divorce! Family court was created to help lessen the burden of disputes between families on the traditional court system. The family court would only handle family disputes and divorce cases. This made it easier for people to get a divorce.

Prior to 1969 if you wanted to get a divorce you would have to prove grounds for divorce, such as adultery or abandonment. California was the first state to introduce a No-Fault divorce. After this many states followed suit and there are now 50 states that allow for a No-Fault divorce. This change in the law has paved the way for an easier divorce system in The States. 

Divorce also became more popular during the 70s with more women filing for divorce than men.

50% of marriages during the 70s ended in divorce. Half of the children during the 70s came from broken homes in comparison to only 9% of children in the 1950s.

Child support has always been an issue when it comes to divorce. Luckily during the 1980s child support guidelines were drawn up, this allowed for guidance on what to do if a spouse did not make enough income to support their children. Also in the 1980s, The Uniform Marital Property Act was passed. This helped couples who acquired property before their marriages to keep their properties and not have their assets split during their divorce.  So any property that they had before their marriage, remained theirs.

Mediation and online divorce are fast becoming very popular options for couples seeking to get a divorce. These alternatives to traditional your divorce out of court, thus saving you time and money. Online divorce, makes getting a divorce so easy. You don't need an attorney. You can file for a divorce online and receive all your documentation online. Online divorce company can help you with the entire divorce process. This makes getting a divorce really convenient. You can file for a divorce from the comfort of your own home. The internet has made getting a divorce so easy. Online divorce can also be more cost-effective. It's incredible how easy getting a divorce has become.

The divorce rate has drastically risen, though, since the 1970s. Statistics show that 6.9% of people out of 1000 got a divorce during 2015. Almost one million children a year come from broken households.  According to completecase.com, between 40 and 50% of marriages end in divorce in the US. This also begs the question, has divorce perhaps become too easy? Do couples give up, instead of actually trying to work at their marriages?

The divorce process has changed greatly over time. Luckily divorce seems to be easier in this century, especially for couples who really need to get a divorce. Divorce is also fair in this century because in the past women were the ones who suffered the most during a divorce. There are many positives to divorce in this day and age, but trends have also shown how divorce can cause a lot of emotional issues. Just because it's easier to get a divorce, it doesn't always mean you should get a divorce. If you can try to make things work, it's always a good idea to really try to give your marriage a decent shot. Always think carefully before getting a divorce and really weigh up all the pros and cons.