Newly released data studied by the Williams Institute, a think tank at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, concludes that marriages of same sex partners are less likely to divorce than opposite sex couples. Moreover, gay and lesbian unions are occurring in greater numbers than their heterosexual counter-parts. Not only are more same sex marriages being performed, but numbers indicate that female couples are more likely to marry than male couples and they are seemingly more serious about their unions.
Many opponents of same sex marriages argue that these unions will fundamentally erode the institution of marriage. Yet even though history shows marriage laws have frequently changed over the years, the institution of marriage is still going strong. The research from the Williams Institute seems to confirm this.
According to the study, 64% of female same sex couples legalized their unions, marriages or domestic partnerships. Researchers said this was a higher amount than expected. The annual average divorce rate among heterosexual couples was two percent, versus the annual average of slightly over one percent for same sex couples. Further data was analyzed to evaluate divorce rates for the dissolution of civil unions and domestic partnerships. The average rate of heterosexual couples was still higher than those types of legalized relationships at 1.6%.
The data was collected at the beginning of 2014 from the 23 states who offered same sex legal statuses. New Hampshire and Vermont provided statistics on divorce, while California, D.C., New Hampshire, New Jersey, Washington, and Wisconsin shared data for domestic partnership and civil union dissolutions. The Williams Institute reports that the number of marriages for same sex couples had leveled off before June 2013 due to the Supreme Court landmark case that struck down what was referred to as the Defense of the Marriage Act (DOMA.) Following the decision in Windsor v. U.S., or as the Williams Institute refers to it, “The Windsor Effect”, the rate of same sex marriages nearly doubled from 2012 to 2013.
The reality is that divorce is a possibility for both same sex couples as well as heterosexual couples. The dedicated and compassionate Baltimore divorce lawyers at Huesman, Jones and Miles LLC understand how difficult the dissolution of any union can be and help all types of couples who may be facing divorce in Maryland.
Baltimore Divorce Lawyers at Huesman, Jones, & Miles handle all types of Divorce including Domestic Partnership and Civil Union Dissolutions in Maryland
If you or a loved one are facing a Maryland divorce, Baltimore divorce lawyers at Huesman, Jones, and Miles LLC offer experienced legal counsel in all areas of Maryland family law. We meet the needs of all types of couples and are devoted to finding the best possible solution for you. Our Baltimore divorce lawyers are located in Hunt Valley, Maryland helping families throughout the state including clients in Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County and Howard County as well as those located in Towson, Columbia, Bel Air, Westminster and Essex. For a free confidential consultation call us at 443.589.0150 or use our contact form online.
