Saturday, June 1, 2002

A story released today by the York Daily Record reports that in January 1980, the Pennsylvania state legislature passed the state’s no-fault divorce law. No longer would the need to assign blame contribute to the length and expense of the divorce process.

To some, the law has been a merciful change that allowed people an easier way to get out of unhealthy relationships. To others, it has made divorce too easy, too convenient and too common. With the husband and wife both seeking the dissolution of the marriage, they can get divorced in 90 days.

"It has been more of an issue with women," said Janet Bliss, who has provided counseling for couples in the York County region since 1986. "Now, if they’re unhappy, a precedent has been set that they don’t have to stay in an unhappy marriage."

In York County, the number of divorced people grew 33.2 percent, from 20,494 in 1990 to 27,304 in 2000, according to Census 2000. Across the state, divorces have jumped 26.1 percent, from 633,823 in 1990 to 799,339 in 2000.

In 2000, 9 percent of York County residents 15 years and older were divorced, up from 7.6 percent in 1990, according U.S. Census. Across Pennsylvania, 8.1 percent of state residents 15 years and older were divorced in 2000, increasing from 6.6 percent a decade earlier.

In 22 of York County’s 72 municipalities, 10 percent or more of the adult population was divorced. North York had the highest percentage of divorced residents at 16.6 percent, or 219 of 1,317 adults.

Michelle Prince, who has provided counseling in York County and Maryland for 25 years, has seen how no-fault divorce has shortened the amount of time couples are willing to invest in saving a marriage.

"No-fault divorce should be changed or it should include a provision for mandatory counseling before a divorce is granted," Prince said, "particularly where children are involved."