Divorce rates in Mass. among the lowest in the United States

September 24, 2009

SPRINGFIELD – The divorce rate in Massachusetts is much lower than other New England states, and one of the lowest in the nation, new census data shows. . . .

The figures, based on 2008 records, came as a surprise to lawyers and divorce counselors, who said Massachusetts is not known as being a particularly divorce-adverse place.

“There’s nothing more onerous about Massachusetts laws than any other state,” said Cynthia J. Turnbull, a lawyer in Northampton.

Referring to studies showing that nearly 50 percent of marriages end in divorce, Turnbull said: “If anything, divorce seems to be growing area of practice” for lawyers.