If you’re getting married for the second time, you may think that your odds of a second divorce are lower than they were the first time around. After all, you’ve learned from the mistakes of that first marriage. You’re now older and wiser, and you can draw on your experience to avoid some of the same pitfalls.
But is this actually how it works? What can the statistics tell us?
The odds of divorce rise
Though it is true that every relationship is unique, the statistical odds of divorce tend to go up for a second marriage. You are even more likely to get divorced the second time around. This doesn’t mean you absolutely will, but it does mean you should at least be aware of the possibility.
Why does this happen? Part of it could simply be that getting divorced once shows you that you can do it and you can move forward with your life on your own terms. Some people feel nervous to take that step the first time they go through this. You have done it once and things worked out, so you’ll be less nervous about doing it the second time.
Another thing to consider is that your second marriage may also be to someone who previously got married and then divorced. Not only are your odds of a second divorce higher, but so are theirs. Both of you may have learned from your previous marriages, but you also learned the same lessons about when to end those marriages. If you see the same types of issues in your second marriage, you may be faster to end things.
Understanding your legal options
Again, this doesn’t guarantee divorce. You can find many happy couples in their second marriages. But you have to be aware of the legal options you have and how to proceed. Divorce is often more complicated later in life, with mixed families and higher levels of assets. You need to know how to address these complexities if your second marriage does draw to a close.