Gay marriage divorce

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(Cal. With same-sex marriage rates rising and policy decisions imminent, these up-to-date figures matter now: read on for concrete numbers, timelines, and targeted insights that pinpoint where dissolution risks are concentrated.

Demographics & Socio-Economics

The average age of same-sex divorcees in the UK in 2022 was 40.8 years for men
The average age of same-sex divorcees in the UK in 2022 was 40.1 years for women
Same-sex divorcees in the UK are on average younger than opposite-sex divorcees (who average in their mid-40s)
In the US, same-sex couples with children have a slightly lower dissolution rate than those without children
In the UK (2019), the most common age group for same-sex divorce was 35-39 for both men and women
Poverty rates are higher in divorced lesbian households than divorced gay male households in the US
Interracial same-sex couples in the US show no statistically significant difference in divorce rates compared to same-race couples
In the UK, same-sex couples living in London have higher divorce numbers correlating with higher population density of LGBT residents
Same-sex couples in the US South are more likely to be divorced than those in the Northeast, correlating with younger marriage ages
In the Netherlands, age disparities between partners are a stronger predictor of divorce in same-sex male couples than female couples
Bisexual individuals in same-sex marriages report higher rates of dissolution than monosexual gay/lesbian individuals in the US
In 2021, the mean age at divorce for female same-sex partners in the UK was 39.2 years
In 2021, the mean age at divorce for male same-sex partners in the UK was 40.4 years
Higher educational attainment correlates with lower divorce rates in same-sex couples, similar to opposite-sex trends
In Norway, same-sex couples with children are more stable than those without, but still less stable than opposite-sex parents
US data suggests lesbian couples are more likely to have children, which complicates divorce custody proceedings compared to gay men
Older same-sex couples (55+) have significantly lower divorce rates than those under 35
In Sweden, same-sex couples where one partner is an immigrant have higher divorce rates than two native-born partners
Economic dependency is less of a barrier to divorce for lesbian couples than heterosexual women due to higher workforce participation
Same-sex divorce numbers are rising simply because the pool of married same-sex couples is growing annually

Demographics & Socio-Economics Interpretation

Like the rest of the marriage landscape, same-sex unions show familiar risk factors but a different terrain, with divorces clustering in the early forties and shaped by age at marriage, education, partner age gaps, children and region, while distinct patterns such as higher poverty among divorced lesbian households, greater instability for bisexual and immigrant-partnered couples, and more stability among older and better-educated partners emerge as the population of married same-sex couples grows and raw divorce numbers rise.

Duration & Timing of Dissolution

The median duration of marriage for same-sex male couples who divorced in 2022 in England was 5.8 years
The median duration of marriage for same-sex female couples who divorced in 2022 in England was 4.9 years
In 2020, the median duration of marriage at divorce for same-sex couples in the UK was 4.7 years
In 2020, the median duration of marriage at divorce for opposite-sex couples was 11.9 years, significantly higher than same-sex couples
Dutch data shows the peak risk of divorce for same-sex couples is within the first 4 years
The median duration of UK same-sex marriages ending in divorce rose from 3.8 years in 2018 to 5.5 years in 2022
In Belgium, same-sex marriages have a higher probability of dissolving in the first 2 years than opposite-sex marriages
In the UK, same-sex male marriages last longer on average before divorce than same-sex female marriages
In 2019, the median duration of marriage for divorcing male same-sex couples in the UK was 4.6 years
In 2019, the median duration of marriage for divorcing female same-sex couples in the UK was 4.1 years
Norwegian statistics show same-sex couples dissolve unions earlier in the relationship timeline than opposite-sex couples
In 2017, the average marriage length for same-sex divorcees in the UK was only 3.3 years due to the recency of the law
The gap in marriage duration between same-sex and opposite-sex couples at the time of divorce is narrowing annually in the UK
Short duration marriages (under 5 years) account for a higher percentage of total same-sex divorces than opposite-sex divorces in New Zealand
Early US state data suggested same-sex couples who cohabited longer before marriage had lower divorce rates
In the Netherlands, 50% of the divorces among lesbian couples happen within the first 6 years
80% of same-sex divorces in England (2018) occurred in marriages lasting less than 5 years
The median duration of dissolved Civil Unions in New Zealand is longer than same-sex marriages due to the earlier start date of the Act
In Finland, the peak divorce rate for registered partnerships occurred in the 4th year of union
Australian data indicates that same-sex separations often occur sooner after the wedding date than opposite-sex separations

Duration & Timing of Dissolution Interpretation

Same-sex marriages tend to be short-lived by conventional measures, with most dissolving within about four to five years, lesbian couples peaking especially early and male couples lasting slightly longer, yet overall durations are creeping up as the institution matures and longer cohabitation before marriage appears to be protective.

Gender Breakdowns (Female vs Male)

In 2022, 63.7% of same-sex divorces in England and Wales were between female couples
In 2022, 36.3% of same-sex divorces in England and Wales were between male couples
Lesbians in the Netherlands are nearly twice as likely to divorce as gay men
In the UK in 2019, nearly three-quarters (72%) of same-sex divorces were among female couples
In Norway, the risk of divorce for lesbian couples is 2.3 times higher than for gay male couples
In 2021, there were 1,061 divorces among female same-sex couples in England and Wales
In 2021, there were 510 divorces among male same-sex couples in England and Wales
In Belgium, lesbian couples have a divorce rate of roughly 25% after 5 years compared to 14% for gay men
In Finland, female same-sex partnerships are more likely to dissolve than male same-sex partnerships
Swedish registry data confirms women married to women have the highest divorce risk of all union types
In 2020, 71% of same-sex divorces in the UK were female couples
In the comparison of dissolution of Civil Partnerships in the UK, women account for roughly 60% of dissolutions
Australian data shows female same-sex couples make up a larger proportion of divorces than marriage registrations relative to males
Danish studies show a 2.59 hazard ratio for divorce among lesbians compared to a 1.28 hazard ratio for gay men relative to straight couples
In 2018, female couples accounted for 74% of same-sex divorces in England and Wales
Over a 20-year longitudinal study in Norway, 28% of lesbian unions were dissolved compared to 20% of gay male unions
UK data indicates male same-sex couples have the lowest divorce rates of all pairing types (including opposite-sex)
In France, 58% of same-sex divorces in 2017 were among female couples
Swiss data indicates that dissolved same-sex partnerships are 57% female
Even in the first year of legalization in various US states, female divorce petitions outpaced male petitions

Gender Breakdowns (Female vs Male) Interpretation

From England to Norway to Australia the pattern is hard to ignore: female same-sex couples consistently divorce at higher rates than male same-sex couples, a statistical eyebrow-raiser that calls for serious attention to the gendered pressures, legal frameworks and everyday relationship dynamics behind those differences.

General Divorce Rates & Totals

In England and Wales, there were 1,671 divorces among same-sex couples in 2022
The number of same-sex divorces in England and Wales increased by 6.4% from 2021 to 2022
In the US, the divorce rate for same-sex couples was estimated at 1.1% regarding total population in 2015-2017 data
By 2019, the total number of same-sex divorces in the UK exceeded 800 per year for the first time
In the Netherlands, approximately 15% of gay marriages end in divorce after 10 years
In the Netherlands, approximately 30% of lesbian marriages end in divorce after 10 years
US Census Bureau data indicated that about 1.6% of same-sex couples reported being divorced in 2019
In New Zealand, there were 48 same-sex divorces granted in 2018
In Belgium, the crude divorce rate for same-sex couples remains comparable to opposite-sex couples when adjusted for duration
In Sweden, same-sex male couples have a divorce risk 1.5 times higher than opposite-sex couples
In Sweden, same-sex female couples have a divorce risk 2.5 times higher than opposite-sex couples
In 2021, there were 1,571 same-sex divorces in England and Wales
The US divorce rate for same-sex couples is slightly lower annually than the 2% rate observed in opposite-sex couples in early comparisons
In Norway, same-sex couples are 23% less likely to have divorced than opposite-sex couples when controlled for marriage duration in early cohorts
Australian data from 2021 showed 495 divorces granted to same-sex couples
In the UK, same-sex divorces accounted for 1.4% of all divorces in 2021
In 2020, there were 1,154 divorces among same-sex couples in England and Wales
Swiss statistical data predicted a divorce rate of roughly 19% for registered partnerships based on early trends
In France, approximately 1,200 same-sex divorces occurred in 2018
Total same-sex divorces in the UK nearly doubled between 2016 and 2019

General Divorce Rates & Totals Interpretation

Legal recognition has brought same-sex couples the full spectrum of marriage outcomes, with rising divorce numbers that, while still a small proportion overall, reveal stark international and gender differences including markedly higher dissolution among lesbian couples, a reminder that equality extends even to the often messy business of splitting up.

Legal Types & Historical Trends

"Unreasonable behaviour" was the most common ground for same-sex divorce in the UK before the "no-fault" law change (2022)
In 2019, 63% of same-sex divorces in the UK cited unreasonable behaviour
Adultery was historically rarely used as a ground for same-sex divorce in UK due to the legal definition of adultery requiring opposite-sex intercourse
The introduction of "no-fault" divorce in the UK (April 2022) is expected to spike same-sex divorce figures in 2023 reports
Civil Partnership dissolutions in the UK dropped to 672 in 2021 after peaking in 2016
A significant number of same-sex divorces in 2015-2016 in the US were couples who married in other jurisdictions before federal recognition
In 2016, UK same-sex divorces increased by 380% compared to 2015, marking the first major wave of eligibility
The conversion of Civil Partnerships to Marriages in the UK creates statistical anomalies in divorce duration data
In Ireland, the first same-sex divorces were only processed starting in 2019 due to the 4-year waiting period law (since reduced)
In 2022, there were 525 Civil Partnership dissolutions in England and Wales, a decrease from previous years
Separation leads to divorce faster for same-sex couples in the US than opposite-sex couples in states with short waiting periods
The majority of same-sex dissolutions in New Zealand were originally civil unions rather than marriages until 2016
In Scotland, simplified divorce procedure applies to same-sex couples with no children and low assets, speeding up the process
Dissolution of civil partnerships in the UK fell by 12.8% between 2020 and 2021
9,280 civil partnerships have been dissolved in the UK since the Act came into force in 2005 through 2021
Same-sex divorce rates in US states that legalized early (e.g.

It will then make a decision and issue a final judgment based on what it considers fair.

Whether a couple agrees to solutions on their own or relies on attorneys and judges to work out their differences, a divorce can take months to years. 2075 (2017)), the high court extended the Obergefell decision to other benefits of marriage, including parentage.

Because most laws are written around traditional heterosexual relationships, gay couples who want to divorce can encounter complications.

Common reasons for LGBTQ+ divorce and separation

While research suggests that same-sex couples experience more happiness and harmony in marriage than their heterosexual counterparts, LGBTQ+ couples have unique challenges that can eventually lead to divorce or separation.

Societal issues: Even though same-sex couples have legal rights to be together, that hasn’t removed the societal discrimination that still exists.

But they might face particular complications, including issues around parental and property rights.
In 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a historic decision legalizing same-sex marriage (Obergefell v. Smith, 137 S.Ct. equitable distribution)
Child custody
Child support
Spousal support (alimony)

Same-sex couples will need to check their own jurisdiction to understand the state’s eligibility requirements to file for divorce.

LGBTQ+ divorce timeline

Whether it is a heterosexual or same-sex divorce, timelines vary depending on whether it is contested or uncontested.

An uncontested divorce is one where both parties agree on important matters concerning their divorce such as property division, child support, child custody, and spousal support.

So some judges might recognize the unfairness of this situation and split the value of the camper between you and your spouse.

But, as some courts have held, that doesn't mean that a couple's lengthy premarital cohabitation requires a finding that they had a long-term marriage. (See, for instance, McLaughlin v. While the court may consider the entire relationship when deciding to award alimony, it will look different depending on the state’s laws and even the court itself.

Property division

States vary in how property is divided by a married couple, whether that couple is other-sex or LGBTQ+.

This can put a great deal of emotional stress on their marriage.
Financial issues: Same-sex couples who marry must face the realities of sharing a financial life after many years of being financially independent.
Children: Like other-sex marriages, the introduction of children into the relationship can expose very different parenting styles and values.

How to file for LGBTQ+ divorce or separation in your state

For LGBTQ+ married couples, the rules and procedures for filing for divorce will be the same as for heterosexual couples, but individual laws and procedures vary by state.

In most states, the court has the authority to determine if that property division is fair, but there are no guarantees.
The benefits of mediation
Despite the headway made by legalizing same-sex marriage, the rights of same-sex partners lag behind in many ways. When both same-sex parents have equal parental rights through adoption, child custody is considered by the court in the same way as a heterosexual divorce.
But both partners can’t be biological parents of a child in a same-sex marriage.

Treto, 622 S.W.3d 397 (Tex. Typically, the procedures are similar to a divorce—which could mean that you have to meet residency requirements to terminate the partnership. Some couples may have registered in more than one state, city, or county—and then later married. The longer the process, the more expensive the divorce.

Common settlement issues

In order for a divorce to be considered “settled,” specific matters must be addressed and agreed upon by both spouses.

But that doesn't necessarily mean those laws don't apply to LGBTQ couples.

In another Supreme Court ruling (Pavan v. If you're in this situation and are ending your relationship, you might need to terminate your partnerships.

It's usually not difficult to end domestic partnership registrations with cities, counties, or employers.

City Admin. This Lgbt Divorce Statistics report synthesizes the latest national and international datasets to map who is divorcing, when, and under which legal and regional conditions. In both cases, property owned by either spouse before marriage is considered separate property and retained by that spouse.
Notably, this property division can be unfair to couples who cohabitated before same-sex marriage became legal.

Adoption or parentage orders may be needed for non-biological parents.

Can LGBTQ+ couples use mediation to divorce?
Yes. Jones, 401 P.3d 492 (Ariz.