Divorce in Paradise?

 Posted on April 05, 2016 in Divorce

Have you ever wondered which country in the world has the highest divorce rate? You may be quick to think it is the United States, due to nearly half of all marriages in the United States ending in divorce today. America is high on the list, coming in at the third highest divorce rate in the world, with 4 divorces per thousand citizens. That number may be high, but it is less than half the divorce rate of the country with the most divorces in the world. Surprisingly, the Maldives, a tropical paradise comprised of 1,200 tiny islands, holds the Guinness World Record for the highest divorce rate in the world, coming in at a staggering 11 divorces per thousand people. What is causing this trouble in paradise?

Strict Religion, But Quick Divorces

According to the United Nations, the average female resident of the Maldives has been divorced three times by the time she is 30 years old. That number is significant, even as the stigma surrounding divorce dissipates around the world. According to an expert with the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, the startling divorce rate can be accredited to the country’s primary religion. The Maldives is a Muslim country, and premarital sex is not permitted under Sharia Law. The country’s young population, experts say, have found a way around the disapproval of their religion. Instead of premarital sex, young Maldivians get married, which can cost as little as ten dollars, and is not as significant a process as it is in much of the rest of the world. Once married, the couple is free to do as they please.

Similar to marriage, divorce in the Maldives is a significantly easier process than it is in America. Men simply need to declare their divorce out loud with a witness present. No paperwork is needed. Women, however, can only pursue a divorce through the country's court system. The ease of the divorce process, for men especially, explains why many young people have been divorced multiple times. Premarital sex may carry a stigma in the Maldives, but, interestingly, divorce does not.

Things may be changing soon, however, Experts say that as prosperity increases in the country, largely due to tourism, property division could start making divorces more complicated. For young couples with little assets to their name, however, a quick marriage and dissolution remains easy.

Help With Your Divorce

While a divorce in Illinois is not as easy as simply stating your intent to dissolve your marriage, there are many different methods available to keep your divorce as pain-free and simple as possible. At Pesce Law Offices, P.C., our team offers solutions to fit a variety of divorce cases. If you are seeking a divorce with limited conflict, we offer mediative and collaborative solutions. If a litigated divorce is needed, we have a wide range of solutions to fit your needs. Divorce does not have to be challenging. Call 630-352-2240 today to schedule a consultation with us to review your case. Our qualified Naperville family law attorneys are here to help.

Sources:

http://www.news.com.au/travel/world-travel/asia/in-the-maldives-everyones-divorced/news-story/651310f7ddb9f7ae4d6d60687eb2be3b

http://www.ozy.com/acumen/the-paradise-where-everyones-divorced/62937