Washington, D.C. – Last week, a team of sociologists from Georgetown University released a groundbreaking study revealing that millennials are single-handedly dismantling the multi-billion-dollar divorce industry simply by skipping marriage altogether. The report, based on marriage and divorce data from 2010 to 2023, shows a 40% drop in weddings among those aged 25 to 40, leading to an estimated 15% decline in divorce filings over the same period. Lead researcher Dr. Elena Vargas, a 52-year-old expert in family dynamics, called it “the quietest apocalypse in legal history.”
Divorce attorneys are feeling the pinch hardest, with many firms reporting layoffs and pivots to less lucrative fields like prenup consulting. “I’ve got a law degree from Harvard and 20 years of experience fighting over custody battles, but now my biggest client is a guy who wants advice on cohabitation agreements for his cat,” lamented Sarah Kline, a 45-year-old family lawyer in suburban Virginia, who’s been forced to moonlight as a wedding planner to stay afloat. The study attributes the trend to millennials’ aversion to debt, skyrocketing housing costs, and a cultural shift toward “commitment-phobia” fueled by dating apps, leaving traditional family courts eerily empty.
As the divorce rate continues to plummet, experts predict a ripple effect across related sectors, from alimony enforcement to bitter ex-spouse support groups. Vargas warns that without intervention—like government-subsidized honeymoons—the industry could shrink by another 25% in the next decade, forcing lawyers to rebrand as “relationship architects.” In the meantime, millennials like 28-year-old barista Jordan Lee, who cited “avocado toast budgets” as his reason for staying single, are unwittingly heralding a new era of perpetual singledom.