The Divorce Rate and Divorce Statistics Prove It: Mediation Works

For individuals and couples contemplating a divorce, the divorce rate and divorce statistics prove it: mediation works.

In New Jersey according to the latest results from the American Community Survey the divorce rate is 6.1 out of every 1000 men and 6.0 out of every 1000 women; which is the lowest in the nation. But more telling than the divorce rate is this: in 2011 it was estimated that only 200 of the estimated 30,000 divorces that were filed ever went to trial. In the world of divorce statistics that’s .67%! Pretty amazing when you think about how contentious a divorce process could wind up being and that less than 1% of the people involved chose to take it all the way to a courtroom. Even if it’s double that or triple that, you’re still looking at anywhere from a 97% to 99.33% pre-trial resolution rate.

As a divorce mediator, I like to think that most of us are rational beings with the ability to make decisions that are best for us and our family so divorce rate aside, it’s why I am a major proponent of divorce mediation not only from the perspective of cost savings but of rational thought. It’s pretty hard to argue with any divorce statistics that show that a divorce can be settled 99.33% of the time without going to trial. That tells me people really do know what it is they want and what they deem to be fair and equitable and so if the issues surrounding your divorce can be resolved more than 99% of the time without every going to court, why wouldn’t you give mediation a chance first before hiring an attorney? Seems like quite a bit of wasted money, time and emotional effort to me. NJ may have the lowest divorce rates in the nation but regardless, it’s hard to argue with the divorce statistics of a 99.33% resolution rate. Mediation works, plain and simple.

How about you? Are you contemplating a divorce and are considering something other than mediation regardless of what the divorce statistics above bear out? Or are you someone who contributed to the divorce rate and are already divorced? Did you use mediation to resolve your divorce or did you hire attorneys? We’d love to hear from you so please feel free to post a comment below. We do our best to read every post so let us know your thoughts or feel free to call us at (908) 864-2177 with any questions you may have about the divorce rate or divorce statistics and we’d be happy to help any way we can.