Remarrying after the end of a previous marriage or the loss of your spouse can be a major adjustment. The reality is that subsequent marriages are often faced with challenges that are not present in first marriages, primarily the addition of stepchildren and former spouses. Before you decide to give marriage another chance, it is important to decide if both of you are ready for the work that it will take. According to many estimates, the odds may not be in your favor. Some older statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau suggested that the divorce rate for second marriages was around 60%. However, it is important to note that divorce rates have changed in recent decades. While the oft-cited statistic is that half of all marriages fail, some of the most current research suggests that the divorce rate is closer to 40% for first marriages.
