A recent study found that divorce reduces a person’s wealth by 77% or three-quarters. Compared to someone single, being married almost doubles comparative wealth. People who are single have a steady, but slow growth of wealth.  People who are married and stayed married showed a sharp increase in wealth of about 4% each year, just as a result of being married. People who are married and then divorced find that a divorce is financially devastating.  Traditionally, women are the ones who lose the most in divorce. Their standard of living may drop as much as 30% in the first year following a divorce. When a divorce is contentious and drags on for years, the financial consequences can’t be avoided.