Second marriages: 3 things you need to know

1. The Re-marriage Divorce Rate is an Urban Legend

I discovered that the sources routinely quoted for the “60/70 percent of second marriages end in divorce” stat don’t exist. The truth isn’t perfect, but it is much better: according to the Census Bureau (2009), 65 percent of women are still married to their second spouse—and the 35 percent who aren’t, includes widows! So, when you really boil it down, probably closer to 30 percent of second marriages have ended in divorce.

Tweet this: According to the Census Bureau, 65 percent of women are still married to their second spouse—and the 35 percent who aren’t, includes widows!

Of course, any amount of divorce is too high, but you need to shift your thinking to realize that if you’re entering into a second marriage, it would be unusual if you didn’t make it. (If you want to a simple look at the real stats, see The Good News About Marriage.)