If you and your loved one are considering living together before you get married, new research recommends waiting until you are age 23 or older.

According to a 2014 study by Arielle Kuperberg, a sociologist at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, age can be a significant predictor of divorce. Kuperberg spent 11 years gathering responses from more than 7,000 married couples from the US National Surveys of Family Growth. The study revealed that couples who lived together or married at age 18 had a 60% divorce rate, while couples who lived together or married at age 23 had only a 30% divorce rate. By waiting five more years before cohabitating, the divorce rate dropped by 50%!

Kuperberger’s research seems to counter the common believe that cohabitating before marriage was detrimental to a relationship. The study indicates that what age you are when you enter into a serious relationship is one of the most significant indicators of whether the relationship will be successful or not. Individuals younger than 23 years of age face a higher risk of divorce. However, in contrast, couples who are older when they move in together have a very low risk of divorcing in the future.

Everyone has their own opinion about living together before marriage, but it is possible that most of us can agree that the older you are, the more likely you are to make wiser decisions in choosing a lifelong partner.

Men often find it difficult to find a divorce attorney who understands the unique male perspective on family law matters. If you are facing divorce or you have other family law needs, our legal team is here to help. Contact the Men’s Divorce Law Firm to schedule a consultation with a caring professional, and aggressive advocate for men’s rights in divorce, child timesharing (custody), and paternity matters.