Sometimes the things that appear to be factual just don’t hold water. The same holds true about what Michigan residents might believe about divorce. For those who are considering ending their marriages, it might be best to know fact from fiction.

It’s common that most people believe 50% of all marriages end in divorce, but that statistic is skewed. That number is more like 39%. The rate of divorce has been falling for the last few years. For instance, the rate of divorce in 2000 was 4 per 1,000 people, while in 2015 that number fell to 3.1.

Another misconception is that most divorces occur at the start of a new year. Statistics show that spring and summer are when divorce numbers are highest — particularly in March and August, while November and December are the months for the fewest filings. Experts believe couples wait for the holidays to be over before making a final decision about divorce. Other things that may lead a couple to divorce are:

• Alcohol consumption. If one spouse drinks heavily and the other doesn’t that could mean divorce may be in the cards;
• Black women who are between the ages of 50 and 59 are the most likely to get a divorce;
• Ages of the couple. The average age for a first-time divorce is 30.

Knowing what is and isn’t true about divorce may make the divorce process easier to get through. A Michigan lawyer experienced in family law knows the difference between fact and fiction regarding the dissolution of a marriage. He or she may be the best person to answer questions about confusing aspects of the process.