Wives Admit to Back-Up Partner in the Event of Divorce

 Posted on November 06, 2014 in Divorce

In the past, the majority of couples who entered into marriage did so with the idea they were making a lifetime commitment. Of course the divorce rate paints a more realistic picture, with at least half of all marriages today ending in divorce. And many engaged couples also accept the realities of how difficult it can be to make a marriage work by drafting up prenuptial agreements before they are wed.

A new survey reveals that some women may take the divorce rate to heart even further once they are married—by having a “back-up partner” lined-up in the event they divorce their current one.

In the survey, 50 percent of the 1,000 married female participants admitted to having a back-up partner if their current relationship ended. For the majority of those women, their back-up partner was usually either a friend or ex-boyfriend who had unrequited feelings for the woman and was still waiting for them. Other statistics regarding back-up partners included the following:

• Twenty-five percent of the women said their feelings for their back-up partner were just as strong as their feelings for their husband. Another 10 percent admitted their feelings for their back-up partner were actually stronger than those for their husband;
• The percentage of when the back-up partner arrived on the scene was almost equally divided, with half of the women saying it was someone they knew before they had met their husband and the other half saying it was someone who they met after they were already with their spouse;
• Almost 50 percent of the husbands were aware of the back-up partner’s existence, with 20 percent of husbands finding another man’s feelings for his wife amusing. But another 35 percent of the husbands felt uncomfortable about the situation; and
• Just under 20 percent of the women were “seriously considering” entering into a relationship with their back-up partner.

If you have decided to divorce your spouse, there are several issues that may need negotiated, including child custody, asset division and spousal support. Contact an experienced Geneva family law attorney to discuss your options and needs.