Why are many young couples choosing to separate early in marriage?  Calling in an expert, Herald Sun's Body + Soul chats to Annelis Bos, Partner at Coote Family Lawyers, about what exactly is fueling the rise of young divorcees in Australia.

"There’s a trend of people not wanting to put up with anything that they don't like. And there's less inclination for people to work things through and put up with things that maybe aren’t perfect,” Bos explains. “So I think it's this quest for personal satisfaction that is incompatible with marriage.”

But, as Bos points out, younger Aussies’ rising standards in relationships shouldn’t necessarily be perceived as totally negative.

Unlike older people—who after filing for divorce 20 years into a marriage, reveal a long list of behaviours or incompatibilities they ‘put up with’ from their partner—younger couples appear to have lowered their tolerance for undesirable characteristics in a partner. 

“The other factor is that a lot of young people are very financially savvy and independent, and the idea of working really hard to share your income and assets with someone that isn't equally minded becomes quickly unattractive,” points out Bos. “A lot of people take the view that perhaps they're better off on their own than they are in a marriage.” 

Another influencing factor, says Bos, is how dating has evolved over the past few decades – particularly the introduction of online dating. With some couples meeting and settling down sooner than they traditionally might have (thanks a lot, Covid lockdowns), they can often find themselves feeling like they don’t truly know their partner post-wedding, leading to divorce. 

Why it’s important to protect your individual financial freedom

While many young divorcees part ways fairly amicably, Bos says an individual’s ability to maintain a sense of financial freedom and independence plays a key role in the direction a divorce may take.

“I think that's a really important factor in determining how successful or amicable a divorce can be,” she says, explaining that tension arises most often when one party feels at a disadvantage or like they're getting ‘ripped off’. 

“Someone who has just had kids and doesn't have a job or hasn't gone back to work will have more skin in the game and therefore can be more anxious about what a divorce means for them.”

Whether it’s in the form of an official pre-nuptial agreement, or simply just an open and honest conversion with your partner about each of your personal and financial expectations for the future, tackling the ‘uncomfortable’ conversations long before you head down the aisle is an imperative step for any couple. 

“Everyone's on the same page when you know everyone is working, you've got your house and you can pay your mortgage,” says the family lawyer. But when things hit the fan, what is the plan then?”

You can read the full article that was published in the Herald Sun here: ‘Why people are getting divorced younger faster, and without hesitation’

Coote Family Lawyers are recognised as one of the top family law firms in Melbourne.  If you need advice or assistance call us now on 03 9804 0035.

There’s a trend of people not wanting to put up with anything that they don't like. And there's less inclination for people to work things through and put up with things that maybe aren’t perfect,” Bos explains. “So I think it's this quest for personal satisfaction that is incompatible with marriage.”

But, as Bos points out, younger Aussies’ rising standards in relationships shouldn’t necessarily be perceived as totally negative.

Unlike older people—who after filing for divorce 20 years into a marriage, reveal a long list of behaviours or incompatibilities they ‘put up with’ from their partner—younger couples appear to have lowered their tolerance for undesirable characteristics in a partner. 

“The other factor is that a lot of young people are very financially savvy and independent, and the idea of working really hard to share your income and assets with someone that isn't equally minded becomes quickly unattractive,” points out Bos. “A lot of people take the view that perhaps they're better off on their own than they are in a marriage.” 

Another influencing factor, says Bos, is how dating has evolved over the past few decades – particularly the introduction of online dating. With some couples meeting and settling down sooner than they traditionally might have (thanks a lot, Covid lockdowns), they can often find themselves feeling like they don’t truly know their partner post-wedding, leading to divorce. 

Why it’s important to protect your individual financial freedom

While many young divorcees part ways fairly amicably, Bos says an individual’s ability to maintain a sense of financial freedom and independence plays a key role in the direction a divorce may take.

“I think that's a really important factor in determining how successful or amicable a divorce can be,” she says, explaining that tension arises most often when one party feels at a disadvantage or like they're getting ‘ripped off’. 

“Someone who has just had kids and doesn't have a job or hasn't gone back to work will have more skin in the game and therefore can be more anxious about what a divorce means for them.”

Whether it’s in the form of an official pre-nuptial agreement, or simply just an open and honest conversion with your partner about each of your personal and financial expectations for the future, tackling the ‘uncomfortable’ conversations long before you head down the aisle is an imperative step for any couple. 

“Everyone's on the same page when you know everyone is working, you've got your house and you can pay your mortgage,” says the family lawyer. But when things hit the fan, what is the plan then?”

You can read the full article that was published in the Herald Sun here: ‘Why people are getting divorced younger faster, and without hesitation’

Coote Family Lawyers are recognised as one of the top family law firms in Melbourne.  If you need advice or assistance call us now on 03 9804 0035.

#There’s a trend of people not wanting to put up with anything that they don't like. And there's less inclination for people to work things through and put up with things that maybe aren’t perfect,” Bos explains. “So I think it's this quest for personal satisfaction that is incompatible with marriage.”

But, as Bos points out, younger Aussies’ rising standards in relationships shouldn’t necessarily be perceived as totally negative.

Unlike older people—who after filing for divorce 20 years into a marriage, reveal a long list of behaviours or incompatibilities they ‘put up with’ from their partner—younger couples appear to have lowered their tolerance for undesirable characteristics in a partner. 

“The other factor is that a lot of young people are very financially savvy and independent, and the idea of working really hard to share your income and assets with someone that isn't equally minded becomes quickly unattractive,” points out Bos. “A lot of people take the view that perhaps they're better off on their own than they are in a marriage.” 

Another influencing factor, says Bos, is how dating has evolved over the past few decades – particularly the introduction of online dating. With some couples meeting and settling down sooner than they traditionally might have (thanks a lot, Covid lockdowns), they can often find themselves feeling like they don’t truly know their partner post-wedding, leading to divorce. 

Why it’s important to protect your individual financial freedom

While many young divorcees part ways fairly amicably, Bos says an individual’s ability to maintain a sense of financial freedom and independence plays a key role in the direction a divorce may take.

“I think that's a really important factor in determining how successful or amicable a divorce can be,” she says, explaining that tension arises most often when one party feels at a disadvantage or like they're getting ‘ripped off’. 

“Someone who has just had kids and doesn't have a job or hasn't gone back to work will have more skin in the game and therefore can be more anxious about what a divorce means for them.”

Whether it’s in the form of an official pre-nuptial agreement, or simply just an open and honest conversion with your partner about each of your personal and financial expectations for the future, tackling the ‘uncomfortable’ conversations long before you head down the aisle is an imperative step for any couple. 

“Everyone's on the same page when you know everyone is working, you've got your house and you can pay your mortgage,” says the family lawyer. But when things hit the fan, what is the plan then?”

You can read the full article that was published in the Herald Sun here: ‘Why people are getting divorced younger faster, and without hesitation’

Coote Family Lawyers are recognised as one of the top family law firms in Melbourne.  If you need advice or assistance call us now on 03 9804 0035.

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