King County Divorce Rate Up Over 8% In Two Years

The King County Department of Judicial Administration has released its latest numbers on the Seattle divorce rate: in the last two years, the number of people filing for divorce in King County has risen by 8.15 percent. In 2008, at the height of the economic recession, there were 7,194 divorce filings, while in 2010, there were 7,781 divorce filings.

What is the likely reason for this significant rise in ended marriages? It is probably not, as it might appear, that more people are unhappy in their relationships; it is more likely that more people can simply afford divorce than could in 2008. During a recession, couples are often not able to afford separate dwellings, divorce fees, and the other costs of ending a marriage. After a recession, the divorce rate often rises briefly as couples who have been waiting to divorce finally have the financial ability to file for divorce an move on with their lives.