Marriage Rates Are Up: You Still Need to Protect Yourself

Marriages in 2022 hit their highest rate since 2018 according to a recent report from the CDC. There were over 2 million marriages in the United States in 2022, with 6.2 marriages per 1,000 population. In states like Nevada, Montana, and Hawaii, marriage rates were the highest.

We often hear that marriage is on the decline, and some people are convinced it's because men don't want to "lose it all" to women in divorce. Now we at the Divorce Money Guide know this is nonsense, because men don't "lose" anything in divorce. The jointly owned assets are divided, and no one is "giving" or "taking" in the divorce.

It is true that marriage rates are down, compared to the 1960s. But that's  a factor of changing preferences. Women no longer feel like they *must* get married since they have more career opportunities than ever. When people do get married, they don't get married as young as before. There is much less parental pressure to marry. There are fewer perceived benefits to marriage.

All that being said, there are still lots of marriages and lots of divorces each year. This means that it is important for you to protect yourself and your finances. Don't leave yourself vulnerable. Whether happily married or contemplating divorce, there are 3 areas to focus on when taking proactive steps to protect yourself.

Money: If you are facing a divorce, you want to KNOW that your money is secure and protected against financial fraud. Husbands lie about the money in various ways, from illegal shenanigans like gambling or drugs to affair partners. And you need to make your money fraud-proof.

Information: During a divorce, many women fall victim to identity theft or credit issues at the hands of their husbands, but there are steps to take to protect your information and ensure your ex doesn't come back to haunt you.

Technology: Protecting your digital life involves much more than simply changing your email address or a few passwords. Husbands can use some very shady tactics to make your life miserable for years to come and you need to know every step to take to make sure you and your children are safe.

Don't let him get the advantage during your divorce. Protecting yourself starts with knowing all about your family's money, how much, where it is and what it's been spent on. Once you know that, you can protect yourself by securing your money, your information, and your technology.