One of the ways that millennials differ from previous generations is they have a trend of moving in together before marriage. In Mississippi and other states, living together may seem like it would be a good thing. You can test the waters to see if you would want to be married to that person, right? The reality, unfortunately, is different. People are less likely to marry when they live together before marriage. Those who do eventually marry after living together are less likely to stay married.
Data analysts sometimes refer to this phenomenon as millennial divorce. A couple lives together for years as if they are a married couple, so when they break up, it’s like a divorce. Cohabiting couple families are increasing at a faster rate than married couple families. This type of living situation increased 25.8% between 2008 and 2018.
Approaching marriage and divorce as a millennial
Before you marry someone, it’s important to understand family law and the legal responsibilities you will have toward your spouse. You also need to ask your partner important questions before moving in with them or choosing to marry them. Although you may not want to scare off someone in the early stages of dating, you shouldn’t wait a long time before having these crucial conversations. Breaking up with an incompatible person is more difficult when you have spent years living with them than when you are only in a six-month relationship with them. Important questions to ask if you want to increase the chances of your relationship lasting are:
- Do you want to eventually marry?
- Do you want to have kids? If so, how many kids do you want, and when would you want to have them?
- Where do you want to live long-term?
- How frequently do you want to change where you live?
- What are your priorities? Do you put your career or family first?
- What are your life goals?
- Do you want to live a humble life, or do you prefer a more extravagant lifestyle?
Differences between partners on any one of these questions are often the cause behind problems in a marriage or serious relationship. Because of how critical the answers to these questions are, it’s more difficult to make the relationship work when you are not on the same page or unwilling to let go of a particular thing you wanted.
Although millennials are marrying less often, they still get into long-term, committed relationships similar to a marriage. As with divorce, couples who are breaking up after long-term cohabitation may need legal help to divide their assets and work up custody agreements for any children.
