The Austin Lafferty Solicitors & Estate Agents Blog

A recent study into family formation by researchers at Bowling Green State University’s National Center for Family and Marriage Research’s (NCFMR) has found that the majority (61%) of young adults have formed a family by age 25.

According to the research, over two-thirds of women (69%) have formed a family in early adulthood compared to just over half of men (53%). Education also plays an integral part in how a family is formed. Family formation in early adulthood was most prevalent among young adults with a GED diploma, at 81%. Those with at least a bachelor’s degree were least likely to form a family before age 25 (44%).

“Increasingly, young adults are spending more time in school as they pursue college and advanced degrees,” said Dr. Susan Brown, co-director of the NCFMR and a professor of sociology. “This tends to delay family formation—whether childbearing, cohabitation, or marriage—as most people aim to achieve financial security prior to starting a family.”

Researchers found over a quarter of young adults married prior to their 25th birthday. Over a third of them followed a direct or “traditional” pathway into marriage, meaning they did not live with their partner or have a child before getting married. Men were more likely than women to follow this “traditional” pathway.

The researchers also found out that living together is a strong pathway to marriage. Among young adults who got married, over three-fifths cohabited before tying the knot. Women are also more likely than men to live with someone before marriage (63% versus 57%).

The Registrar General for Scotland has published provisional figures for births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships registered during the third quarter of 2011.

The figures show:

- 15,216 births were registered in the third quarter of the year - 306 (2.1%) more than in the same period of 2010.

- At 11,651, the number of marriages was 74 more than in the third quarter of 2010.

- 194 civil partnerships (74 male and 120 female) were registered in the quarter, 23 more than in the third quarter of 2010.

- 12,615 deaths were registered in Scotland in the third quarter of 2011 - 0.9% more than in the same period of 2010.

- Deaths from cancer rose by 0.3%. Deaths from coronary heart disease and stroke fell by 5.8% and 0.9 % respectively.

Research from the Centre for the Modern Family, a new think tank launched by Scottish Widows to improve the understanding of the challenges facing modern British families, has revealed that just 16% of people define themselves as part of a ‘traditional’ family of two married parents living together with two or more children. Instead, the findings indicate family structures are becoming increasingly diverse. A quarter of all couples are childless, and one in five lives alone.

Some of the most striking research findings centre on people’s attitudes to what constitutes a “proper family”. Fifty seven per cent of people no longer believe that a couple with children have to be married to be a family. Beyond the subject of marriage, 77% of people believe that single parents can be a proper family; and 59% believe that same sex couples can be a family.

However, a significant minority of people disagree with these views indicating a strong polarisation of opinion. A third, 34%, thinks that a couple should be married to be a family. Just under a third, 29%, believe that same sex couples are not a proper family, and almost one in five, 17%, feel that single parents are not a proper family.

Half of respondents feel that society is out of date with its view of the family. Almost a quarter, 22%, do not believe their family is valued by society and almost a fifth, 18%, feel judged because of their family set-up.

More than half don’t think that the Government takes their family into account and 55% do not think their family set-up is portrayed by the media, on television or in advertising. A quarter of people believe that businesses do not cater for their type of family.

New legislation is now in force across Scotland to help protect victims of forced marriage. The Forced Marriage (Protection and Jurisdiction) (Scotland) Act 2011 provides a specific civil remedy for those threatened with forced marriage and those already in such a marriage. The Act received Royal Assent on 27th April 2011, and came into force on 28th November 2011.

The legislation gives Scottish courts the power to issue Forced Marriage Protection Orders, which can be tailored according to the specific needs of the victim, for example, to ensure people are taken to a place of safety or to help those in danger of being taken abroad for marriage.

The legislation is the first in the UK to make it a criminal offence to breach an Order, leading to a two year prison sentence, a fine, or both.

Smina Akhtar, Director of Amina, the Muslim Women's Resource Centre in Glasgow, said:

"Forced Marriage is not acceptable within any major religion. This law will mean that victims of forced marriage will no longer be alone and have to suffer in silence.

"By passing this law the Scottish Government has given a voice to a silent minority and a lifeline to many young people who until now have had nowhere to turn for help and support."

Existing powers to annul a forced marriage have also been reformed to make the process easier.

A recent report from America has shown that divorce rates for the over-50 age group have more than doubled over the last thirty years, and is expected to keep rising, reports Ohio.com. 

A recent publication from the Registrar General for Scotland has revealed provisional figures for births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships registered during the second quarter of 2011.