Marriage rates have declined dramatically over the last 30 years. This paper examines whether the adoption of unilateral divorce laws has contributed to this decline. Using US state level panel data, I provide evidence that after the adoption of unilateral divorce, marriage rates declined significantly and permanently in adopting states. The decline in marriage caused by unilateral divorce corresponds to 46% of the initial difference in marriage rates in 1970 across adopting and non-adopting states, and accounts for 3.6% of the overall decline in the marriage rate. The effect of unilateral divorce on the rate of marriages per single is of equal qualitative importance. Analyzing the propensity to marry within specific cohorts, I find unilateral divorce had the greatest impact in reducing the propensity to marry among whites, and those marrying for a second time. States which also introduced an equitable division of property across spouses in divorce had further significant reductions in marriage rates. This had the greatest qualitative impact among older white males, and those marrying for the second time.
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