Married couples now lead fewer than half of Milwaukee households

Just as the face of the American family has changed, the way family law affects Wisconsin families has changed over the years. Just over 20 years ago, more than 60 percent of family households in Milwaukee were occupied by married couples.

In 2000, 55 percent of family homes in Milwaukee were occupied by a married couple. Today, only 49.5 percent of family homes are occupied by married people. Now, single parents lead the majority of family households in Milwaukee, according to the latest U.S. Census figures. The latest statistics say that women running households without husbands are four times more common than men without wives.

Roberta Coles, the chair of Marquette University social and cultural sciences department, says the trend is no surprise in a society where marriage has lost some of its charm. Coles also blames the economy. In some cases, Coles says, couples want to be married but just can’t afford it.

Even without the commitment of marriage, people are still in plenty of relationships and they are still having children. Some couples are waiting for the right financial moment to tie the knot, while others are completing education and career goals before marrying.

With poverty prevalent in Milwaukee, Coles says it’s likely that brides and grooms will continue to wait to walk down the aisle. The Marquette University chair said that poverty reduces the likelihood of marriage and increases cohabitation.

It is important to note that an increase in the number of children born to single parents has a significant impact on family law in Wisconsin. While a drop in marriage rates is likely to produce a drop in divorce rates, an increase in the rate of children born to single parents will make different types of family court proceedings more important. Without a divorce case that decides family issues, child support and child custody cases will be needed to determine both parents’ rights and obligations towards their children.

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “Married couples dip below half of Milwaukee family households,” Georgia Pabst and Ben Poston, 5/11/2011