Divorce and Child Custody Filings Decline in Ohio and Franklin County

Love is in the air this Valentine’s Day! For the second straight year in 2023, divorce filings in Ohio have declined.

Our Family Law Partner, Joanne Beasy, dives into the data in her latest blog, revealing a promising look at marriage and explaining why divorce filings have reached their lowest numbers in nearly 30 years.

On Valentine’s Day, I’m happy to report that Cupid is alive and well. Divorce filings in Ohio declined for a second straight year in 2023, reaching their lowest numbers in nearly 30 years. And Franklin County is no different, with two straight years of decreasing divorce filings – including a 13.6% drop in 2022 and another 0.3% last year.

In fact, divorce filings have fallen by nearly 20% over the past two decades in Franklin County, according to State of Ohio Courts of Common Pleas data.

While these numbers aren’t reflected in the Isaac Wiles Family Law practice – we’re as busy as ever – they do parallel what’s been happening nationwide. Divorce rates in the U.S. have been declining while marriage rates have been rising again after many couples delayed tying the knot during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to CDC data.

In Ohio, divorce filings fell to 35,687 last year, compared to 35,818 in 2022. Both numbers mark a significant decrease from 1997, when there were 61,653 divorce filings in the Buckeye State. You can see the steady decline in divorce filings illustrated below.

The state’s data also revealed that, consistent with the drop in divorce filings, the number of child custody and visitation cases in Ohio and Franklin County fell from 2022 to 2023, by 9.3% and 1.1%, respectively.

There are varying opinions on why divorce is on the decline. Some say the newest generations of married adults are waiting to get married but also more likely to stick with a marriage when troubles begin. A recent Bowling Green State University study found that divorces by adults aged 25-34 fell from 33% in 1990 to 23% in 2017. The study noted that for married couples under 24, “the difference was even starker, with divorce rates falling 43% in 27 years.”

Even with these declines, thousands of divorces and custody cases are filed each year in Ohio. All of them come with heartache, stress and important and often confusing legal decisions. That’s where we can help.

The Isaac Wiles Family Law practice is always ready to assist you during this difficult process.