The Houston Family Law Blog


More Non-Traditional Families Emerging in U.S

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Studies by the Pew Research Center and U.S Census Bureau indicate that marriage is becoming obsolete. According to Associated Press, data shows that marriage rates are at an all-time low, where only 52 percent of adults over the age of 18 are married.

Perhaps the definition of family is changing. About 29 percent of children under the age of 18 now live with a parent or parents that are unwed or no longer married. When asked what constitutes a family, AP reported that 80 percent of people surveyed thought unmarried couples with children or a single parent with children were a family. About 60 percent of people surveyed said that a same-sex couple with children should be considered a family. Non-traditional families seem to become more accepted in society as well.

“Marriage is still very important in this country, but it doesn’t dominate family life like it used to,” Professor Andrew Cherlin of Johns Hopkins University told Associated Press. “Now there are several ways to have a successful family life, and more people accept them.”

The Census Bureau is now looking to publish information that moves away from the traditional concept of a family and release supplemental poverty figures that include information on unmarried couples, such as same-sex partners, as well as foster children who are not related by blood or adoption. In the Lone Star state, Texas family law attorneys are also working more with new types of non-traditional families on a variety of legal issues.

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