Divorce: Quick Facts

Written and fact-checked by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

Oct. 29, 2026

News •

Boomer women are dating after divorce. Men don’t always meet their standards. • Oct. 27, 2026, 12:00 PM ET (Washington Post)

These states require separation before divorce. Some say it’s putting women in danger • Oct. 15, 2026, 11:43 AM ET (USA Today)

Topics

How your divorce settlement affects your taxes A guide to managing divorce and your finances Collecting Social Security benefits when you’re divorced Alimony Annulment dissolution Marriage Separation same-sex marriage Interracial marriage in the United States Covenant marriage Why Have So Many World Leaders Married Their Cousins?adultery Banns of marriage harem Group marriage agunah

Key People

Olympe de Gouges

Olympe de Gouges

French writer

Caroline Norton, detail of an oil painting by John Hayter.

Caroline Norton

British writer

default image

E. Mavis Hetherington

Canadian-born developmental psychologist