You might have heard that an individual’s second, third, or later marriage is more likely to end in divorce than his or her first marriage. This is true. People enter their second and later marriages with different perspectives than they had in their first marriages. They can see red flags and conflicts more easily than they might have seen them before and because of this, can feel pushed to end a marriage prematurely.
The key to keeping your second or later marriage from ending in divorce is knowing how to recognize the stresses in a marriage that can drive a couple to call it quits. In any relationship, communication is key. By being willing to communicate your needs and your disappointments with your partner, you can work together to resolve your conflicts.
Second Marriages Often Face Additional Stresses
Couples typically fight about finances, communication, and their expectations for each other and their families. In a second or subsequent marriage, these stresses can be more pronounced because instead of having two people meshing relatively young lives together, there are two established people bringing different values, different financial circumstances and outlooks, and in some cases, their children from previous relationships into a marriage. When there are children involved, difficulties can arise surrounding establishing parenting boundaries and healthy co-parenting relationships with the children’s other parents.
Those Who were Divorced Once are Not Afraid to Do It Again
An individual who has been divorced before is familiar with the realities of divorce. Having completed a divorce in the past eliminates the unknown surrounding a divorce, and fear of the unknown can often push couples in their first marriages to try harder to remain together. An individual who has been divorced before might also see it as an “easy” way out of a difficult relationship or assume that all marital conflicts eventually lead to divorce, putting him or her in a mindset where divorce seems like the only, or best, option.
Protecting your Second Marriage from Divorce
Just because the statistics say your second or later marriage is more likely to end in divorce, this does not have to be the case for you and your spouse. By arming yourself with facts about divorce and an understanding of the issues that drove your first marriage to its end, you can anticipate issues that could arise in your current marriage and work with your spouse to effectively manage them. Consider premarital counseling before you enter a second marriage to work out the issues you faced in your first, like your communication style or expectations of your partner.
Work with an Experienced Winter Park Divorce Lawyer
Whether you are considering your first or fourth divorce, it is important that you work with a lawyer who can act as your advocate throughout the entire process. Contact Aubrey Law today to set up your initial consultation with an experienced Winter Park divorce lawyer.
Resources:
psychologytoday.com/blog/the-intelligent-divorce/201202/the-high-failure-rate-second-and-third-marriages
marriage.com/advice/divorce/10-most-common-reasons-for-divorce/