Who suffers most in divorce financially?

Asked by: Chet Glover  |  Last update: June 4, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (19 votes)

There is a good body of research on the subject that shows women bear the heaviest financial burden when a couple divorces.

Who is usually more financially affected by divorce?

In most divorces, a husband will still have much more property in the form of separate and marital assets than the wife. The United States General Accounting Office released a report in 2017 finding that women's household income is 40% lower after divorce while men's falls only 23% and rebounds rapidly.

Who loses more money in divorce?

Women come out on the financial short end in a divorce, statistically, proven in multiple studies across multiple countries. Here are some links proving this: Also, women tend to spend money on their children, while men tend to spend money on themselves, leaving them with less overall.

Who gets the most money in a divorce?

In most divorces, a husband will still have much more property in the form of separate and marital assets than the wife. The United States General Accounting Office released a report in 2017 finding that women's household income is 40% lower after divorce while men's falls only 23% and rebounds rapidly.

What do men lose in a divorce?

The man may lose a lot of money in the divorce if he has to pay alimony or child support, or if he has to split assets with his former spouse. He may also have to pay lawyer fees, court costs, and other fees associated with the divorce process.

Women tend to suffer more financially in a divorce than men. Here's why

27 related questions found

What is a wife entitled to after 10 years of marriage?

The Benefits of Being Married Ten Years

In some states, such as California, in a marriage of ten years or longer, the court retains the right to order that alimony is paid to the lesser-earning spouse for as long as she needs it if the other spouse has the ability to pay.

Are most men happier after divorce?

Studies show that divorces are equally hard on men and significantly affect their overall health, happiness, and life. In fact, divorce has a more negative connotation for men than women. They suffer more in silence and are likely to develop feelings of resentment and hopelessness after divorce.

Who benefits more in a divorce?

Economic quality of life. Ultimately, the overall economic quality of a man's life, based on earnings and amount spent on living expenses, increases after his divorce. He continues to earn more but bears fewer family expenses. The overall economic quality of a woman's life, post-divorce, decreases.

What assets cannot be touched in divorce?

Separate property generally cannot be touched in a divorce., but there may be times when separate property turns into marital property, making it available for distribution.

Who leaves most often in divorce?

In fact, nearly 70 percent of divorces are initiated by women. This is according to a 2015 research study conducted by the American Sociological Association (ASA) which suggests two-thirds of all divorces are initiated by women. Among college-educated women, this number jumps up to 90%.

Who gets divorced more rich or poor couples?

Lower-income couples are more likely to divorce compared to their higher earning counterparts, but the factors contributing to this disparity remain unclear (Trail & Karney, 2012).

Who loses more in a divorce man or woman?

Some men may experience a 10-40 percent drop in finances following a divorce, often due to having a separate home, paying child support, and other divorce-related expenses, but overall, they fare better financially than women.

How to divorce your wife without losing everything?

Best Ways To Protect Your Money During Divorce
  1. Create an Asset Protection Trust. ...
  2. Legally Establish the Divorce. ...
  3. Open Accounts in Your Name Only. ...
  4. Identify All Your Assets. ...
  5. Get Copies of All Your Financial Statements. ...
  6. Freeze All Joint Bank Accounts. ...
  7. Make a Tax Preparation Plan. ...
  8. Know Your State Laws.

What is the #1 cause of divorce?

Overall, the results indicate that the most often cited reasons for divorce at the individual level were lack of commitment (75.0%), infidelity (59.6%), and too much conflict and arguing (57.7%), followed by marrying too young (45.1%), financial problems (36.7%), substance abuse (34.6%), and domestic violence (23.5%).

Is divorce harder on a man or a woman?

Divorce is generally more stressful and difficult for men, according to the findings of a recent study.

Who suffers the most after a divorce?

Not only is the divorce itself potentially costly, but Forbes points out that women suffer a more significant drop in their standard of living after divorce than men that is “a direct reflection of their decreased financial wealth.” One study found that a woman's standard of living dropped by almost 50%, while a man's ...

Can I empty my personal bank account before divorce?

Thus, you could empty the account without the other one's permission. However, anything you do that is out of the ordinary, such as depleting a bank account, will be scrutinized by the court particularly if it's done immediately before filing for divorce.

Is my wife entitled to half my savings?

Nine states (Arizona, California, Louisiana, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin) have what are known as community property laws, which divide marital property equally upon divorce. Marital property is generally defined as all income, property, and debts acquired during the marriage.

How do I protect myself financially in a divorce?

How Do I Protect Myself Financially From My Spouse During a...
  1. Create a Financial Plan for Your Divorce. ...
  2. Open Your Own Bank Account. ...
  3. Separate Your Debt. ...
  4. Monitor Your Credit Score. ...
  5. Take an Inventory of Your Assets. ...
  6. Review Your Retirement Accounts. ...
  7. Consider Mediation Before Litigation. ...
  8. Popular Family Law Articles.

Who is usually happier after divorce?

Additionally, a study by Kingston University indicates that women tend to be happier after divorce than men do.

Who loses the most financially in a divorce?

How does divorce financially affect women? Generally, women suffer more financially than do men from divorce.

Why are 80% of divorces initiated by wife?

As a result, women are more likely to feel unsupported. The burden of emotional labor is dumped on them — along with child-rearing and domestic chores. At some point, all of this can add up to make divorce sound more palatable than the status quo.

How common is divorce regret?

In fact, studies reveal that up to 50% of divorced individuals experience regret, questioning whether divorce was the right choice after all. As the emotional dust settles, regret often takes hold, especially after that pivotal first year.

Who ends up better after divorce?

Let's start with the hard facts - after divorce, women are more likely to experience a significant household income drop than men. The same is true in comparisons of same-sex marriages. Lesbians who divorce are more likely to experience financial loss than gay men who divorce.

Why do men remarry quickly after divorce?

Men are typically much more enthusiastic about repartnering precisely because they are motivated to find a wife who will care for them (McWilliams and Barrett 2014). Older men tend to repartner quickly following dissolution to reestablish the social and emotional support that their wives provided.