A Norwegian study has shown that couples that share household duties are 50 percent more likely to be divorced than those where the woman does most of the housework.

The study, focused on couples in Norway where in 7 out of 10 couples the woman still does the majority of the chores, found that “the more a man does in the home, the higher the divorce rate.”

While it’s conclusion was definitive, the study found very little cause and effect in the difference in rates and attributes it mostly to values and modern thinking.  Simply put, couples that divide housework equally are typically more modern couples, less dependent on their spouse, and have a less sacred view of matrimony.

Whether or not these findings are applicable remains to be seen.  U.S. divorce rates are high, around 50% for first marriages, have been climbing over the last few decades, and, according to divorce attorney Steven N. Cole, may be scaring younger people away from getting married in the first place.  According to his blog, “67 percent of cohabitating couples had fears about the emotional, financial, social and legal consequences of divorce, and the worries of having to deal with the fallout of divorce,  made them leery of marriage. ”

Until a similar study is made in the U.S., husbands should not use this as an excuse to get out of housework, no matter how enticing this option may seem.

Unless you hate football, news, and gossip, by now you know that former Miami Dolphin receiver  Chad Johnson is refusing to sign divorce papers he was served recently by the recently wedded, soon to be ex wife Evelyn Lozado. As entertaining as the human drama involved in the story (head butt arrest, the subsequent release by the Miami Dolphins, and the fresh ink, that screams “bad decision”, of the tattoo of her face on his leg), the story of the divorce provides an opportunity to examine the process of divorce as it plays out for the world to see.

According to various media reports, Johnson is very adamant that he wants to work things out and stay together. Though a court order forbidding him from making contact with her following the messy domestic violence charge might make it difficult to do so, he is determined to win her back. As previously mentioned, he even went so far as to tattoo Lozado’s face on his leg after she expressed her desire to dissolve the marriage. She on the other hand seems unimpressed and adamant that they have a divorce. Being served with divorce papers can send anyone into a state of confusion and denial. As Chad Johnson is exhibiting, this is not the best state to be making important decisions. That is why we advise contacting and following the legal advice of an experienced divorce attorney immediately.  We also advise against frequenting tattoo parlors in this state of mind.  So what happens next for Chad?

Unfortunately for the receiver formally known as Ochocinco, there is little he can do to stop a divorce. Potential domestic violence charges aside, “no-fault divorce” laws have been implemented in some way throughout all 50 states. This means a person can exit out of a marriage agreement without claiming fault on either party. Which means one way or another, the divorce is imminent.

At this point, the best course of action for Chad Johnson is to accept defeat and prepare for next weeks opponent. In this case, not so much the New York Jets, but the legal proceedings. Depending on what state the papers are filed in, a recipient of divorce papers could have up to 30 days to respond. This means they only have that much time to find the best possible family lawyer and position themselves in the best place possible for a divorce resolution. This could involve obtaining copies of W2’s and financial statements, closing joint bank accounts and credit cards, and assessing assets and liabilities shared by the couple.

Divorce Rate by State:

According to a 2010 study done by the National Vital Statistics Report and the U.S. Census Bureau, northeastern states have the lowest divorce rates, and southern states the highest. But what is the cause of these differences and what fuels the divorces?

The study compared the number of divorces per 1,000 people rather than per 1,000 marriages, so one must take into consideration that the number of states’ marriage rates will show a linked relationship in their divorce rates. However, there are many other factors that influence these numbers. The largest correlation to divorce is poverty and financial stress. Marriages whose household income is below the median have a greater tendency of ending in divorce. For example, Maine is the only state in the Northeast with a high incidence of divorce, with a rate of 4.3 per 1,000, because it provides lower working-class compensation than surrounding states.

Infidelity and young marriage are secondary factors in high divorce rates. Certain states, such as Oklahoma (4.6 per 1,000) and Arkansas (5.6 per 1,000), have attributed their high rates to young people marrying in the early stages of lust or due to an unplanned pregnancy. In scenarios like these, infidelity is more likely to occur which can ultimately lead to divorce.  

Liberal divorce laws do not affect as many states as the previous stated explanations, but make quite an impact on the ones that they do. Some states have installed barriers and hurdles to getting divorced in order to encourage couples to reassess their decision and to work out their problems. While South Carolina requires a couple to be separated for one full year before being granted a divorce, other states have created a system in which obtaining a divorce is quite simple. A divorce attorney with mediation experience can also make the process easier by keeping couples out of court and focused on solutions that are beneficial to both parties.

Nevada (6.6 per 1,000) has been coined, among other things, the “divorce capital of the world.” Although the Las Vegas lifestyle influences marriages with its gambling, substance abuse problems and legal prostitution, liberal divorce laws in Nevada have made long, drawn-out and emotionally taxing divorces a thing of the past. Wyoming’s law states that a couple is simply required to live in the state for 60 days. After that, they can file, and three weeks later the divorce will be finalized.

Divorce rates cannot be categorically attributed to stereotypes, the way some sources suggest. The highest rates are not clustered in the Bible belt, nor do they lie solely in the red or blue states. We do have information on what is currently causing rates to rise, but the explanations are endless and subject to further debate.