Divorce Evil Is Growing

Divorce Evil is Growing

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Rapid Increase in Divorces Throughout the State

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Washtenaw's Record

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Is Not as Good as It Ought to be Although Not as Bad as in Some Other Parts of the State

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The divorce evil in Michigan is growing. Each year seems to show an increase, but the past year eclipses all previous ones. in 1902 there were 2,828 divorces granted in Michigan.

In the previous four years the numbers had been: '98, 1901; '99, 2,328; '00, 2,449. The steady increase will be noted, but this does not tell it all. The increase this present year will probably be even more marked, for on Jan. 1, 1903, there were 5,889 cases pending. In spite of 2,828 couples being granted divorces during the year there were over a thousand more couples desiring it at the end of the year than at the beginning.

To show how lax are the divorce laws and their administration, amounting in many cases to simply parting two people, each of whom thinks he or she might have married better, as per their own agreement, it may be stated that while in all there were 9,040 divorce cases in the courts this year, only 421 were contested and only 43 were refused. In 280 cases the parties made up and suit was withdrawn. 

In Washtenaw county 37 divorces were granted last year. At the beginning of the year there were 68 cases pending and at the end 80 cases pending. Forty-nine new divorce bills were filed. Not a single divorce was contested and not a single divorce was refused, nor was there a single divorce suit withdrawn.