You can legally get married when you turn 18, but it is a risk. Studies have repeatedly found that those who get married at a very young age get divorced at a higher rate than those who wait. In fact, there are those who believe that the most stable marriages happen when people wait until they’re in their early thirties.
Have you ever wondered why this happens? What is it about getting married at such a young age that means it’s not going to last?
You may feel like you’re missing out on life
One potential problem is that you or your spouse could begin feeling like you’re missing out on all the fun that your friends are having. You’re just home trying to make a difficult marriage work. Everyone else is talking about traveling and dating and having new experiences, but you don’t get to do all of that. It can make you feel alienated and alone.
You may run into some serious financial Issues
Remember that marriage is about more than just being in a relationship where the two of you get along. You have to be able to support this new lifestyle. Many people who get married so young find out very quickly that it’s difficult to earn enough money to pay for rent, food, utilities, and everything else. They end up seeing significant financial stress that they probably wouldn’t have felt if they were still single.
You may just change over time
There’s one thing that you can’t really do a whole lot about: You may still change. Your brain is still developing, your personality is still changing and you’re becoming a different person. If you started dating at 15 and got married at 18, are you really going to be the same when you’re 25 or 30 or 35? Many couples who tied the knot early find that they’re incompatible later on in life.
Do you know what steps to take?
No matter why you decide to get divorced or why you feel that your relationship is no longer working, make sure that you are well aware of all the legal steps you still need to take. You may be young, but the results of this divorce are still going to have a big impact on your life.
