Economy Impact: Americans Postponing Marriage, Divorce, Children Because of Economy

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EAGAN, Minn., June 8, 2009 - The slow economy is causing many Americans to postpone some major life decisions - including having children, getting married or getting a divorce. According to a new national survey by FindLaw.com ( http://www.findlaw.com ), the most popular legal information Web site, nearly one in five Americans - 18 percent - say they are putting off one or more of those decisions because of their concerns about the economy.

The survey revealed that because of their concerns over the economy:

• One in ten Americans are postponing marriage
• One in ten Americans are delaying having children
• Six percent of Americans considering adopting children are delaying
• Four percent of Americans are postponing a divorce

The economy is having an especially profound effect on young people. Nearly 40 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 34 are delaying marriage, divorce or having children. A quarter of people in that age group say they are postponing having children due to the economy. Nearly as many - 21 percent - say the economy is causing them to delay their plans to get married.

The effects of the economy on these major life decisions fall most heavily on people in the lower income ranges. More than one-third - 35 percent - of people with annual incomes below $35,000 say they are delaying marriage, divorce or having children because of the economy, compared with only seven percent of those with incomes of $75,000 a year or more.

Free Internet resources, such as FindLaw.com (http://www.findlaw.com), can provide helpful information on topics such as marriage, adoption and divorce, including a newlywed financial checklist, guide to adopting a child, and factors to consider in dividing property in a divorce.

Note to editors: Full survey results are available upon request.