Does Living Together Before Marriage Lead To Less Divorce?

Cohabitation before marriage is on the rise in the U.S., with early research identifying it as a risk factor for divorce. However, recent studies show that marital quality is lower among those who started living together before engagement or marriage. A 2023 report found that married couples who moved in together before getting engaged or married were 48% more likely to divorce than those who did not. Living together before marriage is associated with lower odds of divorce in the first year of marriage but increases the odds of divorce in all other years tested.

Premarital cohabitation is considered a factor in the decrease in divorce rates, as it allows couples to vet each other’s compatibility before walking down the aisle. Wealthier couples are more likely to wed, and living together before marriage may help save money and increase shared resources. However, newer research suggests that the risk associated with premarital cohabitation may be receding.

Cohabitation has become more common in the U.S., teaching couples trust and respect each other, working as a team, solving problems, and showing vulnerability to their partner. However, it is associated with a slightly higher risk of divorce, as some couples may do so as a trial run for marriage, leading to a less-committed attitude toward the institution.

Research shows that couples who live together before getting married are more likely to get divorced, even though it does not make marriage more bulletproof. The Institute for Family Studies report confirms long-standing research showing that people who cohabit before getting married have a higher divorce rate than the minority who don’t.

Does living together before marriage create better marriages?

Cohabitation before marriage is linked to lower divorce rates. Living together before marriage lets couples see if they’re compatible before getting married. This makes it less likely that couples will separate. The rules for common-law marriage vary by state. Many states don’t recognize them. Check your state’s rules to see if you qualify. Couples who live together before marriage don’t have the same protections as spouses in a separation. If you buy things together, you usually split them equally. A cohabitation agreement can help if you live together and get married.

What decreases the chance of divorce?

Don’t marry too young. People who marry before 18 are more likely to divorce. The best time to marry is after age 25, when the risk of divorce is about 24% lower. The risk is significantly lower after age 21 than for those who marry at younger ages. Maturity matters. Nobody thinks their marriage will fail. Waiting may save you a lot of pain and problems.

Learn from your family. Couples with divorced parents are more likely to divorce than those with intact families. Your parents’ decisions and actions are out of your control, but you can learn from their successes and failures. If your parents are happy, find out why and copy them. If not, find out why and don’t make the same mistakes.

Go to college. College-educated couples are more likely to stay married. People who don’t finish high school are most likely to get divorced. People with more education are more likely to stay married and happier in their marriages. Going to college helps people avoid other risks like low income and marrying too young.

Which couple is most likely to get divorced?

Third marriages have the highest divorce rate. Those who marry more than once face a higher rate of divorce.

Are couples that live together before marriage more likely to divorce?

Couples who live together before marriage are more likely to divorce. It seems strange, but studies show that couples who live together before marriage are more likely to divorce than those who don’t.

Are second marriages more stable?

Are things better the second time? Not always. The divorce rate for second marriages in the United States is more than 60%, compared to 50% for first ones. Second marriages often break up because there are more things to balance. Why doesn’t practice make a perfect union? Wouldn’t things be better the second time around? Second marriages have their own challenges, especially when it comes to finances, families, and communication. Carters experience was typical of failed second marriages. He didn’t contribute to the marriage and didn’t want to be around her family. “My kids were 12 and 13, but he never tried to mix them with his,” she says. He didn’t take on our everyday responsibilities. Her experience was not unusual. The National Center for Health Statistics found that 40% of women who brought children into their second marriages saw their marriages fail within a decade.

Do most couples break-up after moving in together?

A recent study found that 54% of couples who lived together before getting married broke up within six years, while only 33% married within the same time. Taylor Swift is reportedly on her own again after her split in March from British actor Joe Alwyn. Swift’s new album, “Midnights,” hints that her six-year relationship with Alwyn is over. But a few years ago, it seemed like Swift and Alwyn would get married. In her 2019 ballad “Lover,” the pop star celebrated the couple’s decision to live together. “This is our place. We make the rules.” “Take me out and take me home.” The song ended with wedding vows. Ladies and gentlemen, please stand. With every scar on my hand, I know this man is my lover.

Why is it not good to live together before marriage?

Living together before marriage has disadvantages. Some couples who live together before marriage make less of a commitment to each other or feel less content with their arrangement. People who live together may have different expectations than their partners. If one partner wants to wait to get married, this can cause problems. It’s important to think about why each partner is moving in together, especially if one wants to wait to get married. Each partner should communicate their meaning. Also, people usually have lower standards for cohabiting than for marriage. This could make people regret spending time and energy on cohabiting if it doesn’t lead to marriage.

Does dating longer lead to less divorce?

Not surprising, but controversial to those who don’t want to believe it. Couples who date less than a year are most likely to divorce. Couples who wait three years before getting engaged have a 39% lower divorce rate. If you spend three years dating before you tie the knot, you are more likely to discover whether you are long-term compatible than a couple that falls in love, gets married, and tries to figure it out after the wedding. This is important news for women in their 30s and 50s. No way. Life is a marathon. Slow and steady wins.

Why not to move in before marriage?

Having more than one partner increases the risk of divorce. This is because having more partners makes it harder to maintain a romantic or family life, and it makes it harder to manage money. It also makes it more likely that you will have children with different partners. The study says that more cohabitation experience often means more experience with relationships ending, which can lower barriers to divorce. “No one wants a dangerous or damaging marriage to continue, but many couples struggle. Having a sense that one can easily move on can also mean moving toward the door too quickly in a marriage that might have succeeded with more effort.” How to avoid these risks. Rhoades and Stanley say there’s hope. Even couples with these problems can work on their relationships and lower their odds of divorce.

Are marriages more successful if you live together first?

Research shows that couples who live together before marriage are no more likely to have a successful marriage. Common sense says that more couples living together before marriage will have less impact on their marriages. This is not true. Even though social norms are changing, cohabiting before marriage still increases the risk of divorce and makes marriages less happy. One downside of cohabitation before marriage is that it makes things more difficult. If you live with your partner before marriage, you’re less likely to break up if there are problems. You’ve probably done at least one of the following before marriage: signed a lease, moved your belongings, got a pet, purchased furniture, and/or made a down payment on a vacation. These things make it harder to break up, even if it’s the right thing to do. Another problem with living together before marriage is that one person is often more excited about the relationship than the other. Some couples don’t decide to move from dating to engaged to married. They just do it.

Does moving in together strengthen a relationship?

Living together can be good for relationships, but it’s important to think about the pros and cons. Knowing these facts can help you make the best choice for you and your relationship.

Want to connect with your partner? Are you thinking about getting married but want to be sure you’re ready? The SMART Couples project offers two free classes for couples: ELEVATE and Before You Tie the Knot. Sign up today!

By Carol Church, SMART Couples.