Posted on December 08, 2014 in Child Custody and Support

Parents ultimately want what is best for their children and strive to provide that for them. Unfortunately, when it comes to divorce, emotions can influence decisions and cloud judgments. Additionally, children are the ones who end up suffering the most when this happens.

A family goes through several changes during and after a divorce, and it is important to remember the toll these changes can take on children. Anger, guilt, confusion, and fear are often felt by children of divorce. However, there are steps parents can take to help children acclimate to a new family situation and adjust to all of these changes.

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 Posted on December 03, 2014 in Divorce

A recent survey, titled “State of Dating in America,” concluded that 95 percent of men and 100 percent of women automatically define cheating as an act of physical infidelity. But, is this the only definition of cheating evident in today’s marriages? The answer is no. In fact, another form of cheating involves one spouse secretly involved in the practice of hiding assets. Highly illegal and unethical, this action by the offending partner may occur in response to a pending divorce and can be further compounded by heightened feelings of guilt, anger or betrayal. Additionally, this type of infidelity often leads to delays in the division of marital property and asset allocation.

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 Posted on December 01, 2014 in Family Law

According to the results of a recent study, couples in same-sex marriages have the same rate of breaking up as do couples in heterosexual marriages. The study, titled “Couple Longevity in the Era of Same-Sex Marriage in the United States,” was published in the October 2014 issue of Journal of Marriage and Family.

Researchers analyzed information gathered from consecutive surveys which had been developed for the “How Couples Meet and Stay Together (HCMST)” study. The HCMST study was conducted from 2009 to 2012 and involved 4,000 American adults. There were 3,009 participants who had a spouse or significant partner. Approximately 470 of those couples were same-sex partners.

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 Posted on November 25, 2014 in Divorce

Divorce does not necessarily have to dash your dreams of a college education for your custodial children. In compliance with Section 5 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (750 ILCS),  the court may, if necessary, evoke the power to protect and promote the best interests of a child by establishing a joint or separately held trust specifically designated for the support, maintenance, education, physical health, mental health, and the general welfare of any minor child.

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 Posted on November 24, 2014 in Family Law

The millennials, the emergent consumer demographic, are changing the face of marriage. Noted in the abstract, "Fewer Marriages, More Divergence: Marriage Projections for Millennials to Age 40," authors Steven P. Martin, Nan Marie Astone, and H. Elizabeth Peters project that marriage for millennials will be at the lowest rate of any previous generation. And for those opting for marriage, a trip down the aisle may not happen before their 40th birthday.

Data derived from the American Community Surveys provided the basis for the analyses with a cross-check against the 2000 U.S. Census report. Additionally, the following projections were established:

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 Posted on November 20, 2014 in Divorce

The traditional yearbook, which requires the snapping of photo frozen in time, versus the instant gratification of connecting with a friend online, may actually capture more than originally thought. It may be an indicator of one's personal future, predicting marital happiness or the probability of divorce.

Matthew Hertenstein, professor of psychology at DePauw University, has spent time dusting off hardcopy yearbooks to document a correlation between the art of smiling and the likelihood of hopeful students who may seek the services of a qualified divorce attorney in the future. Hertenstein conveys that those who smiled the least in comparison to those who freely flashed a grin were five times more likely to experience a divorce at some point in their lives. Although the professor’s research may appear a bit “cheesey,” he believed marital status could be defined by the intensity of a smile.

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 Posted on November 17, 2014 in Divorce

In today’s psychological terms, an extrovert is considered outgoing and highly sociable. Introverts, however, are viewed as shy or aloof. Although very different in nature, psychologists believe either to be a healthy variation of personality styles. Whether an introvert or extrovert, specific traits help determine the dynamics of personal relationships. In fact, according to Your Tango, an electronic media company dedicated to relationships, choosing to begin a relationship with an introvert may discourage a future meeting with a licensed marriage counselor or appointment with a qualified divorce attorney.

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 Posted on November 13, 2014 in Child Custody and Support

When a couple makes the decision to divorce, it often comes after months—or sometimes years—of anger, fighting and disagreements. After living in that type of negative and acrimonious environment, many people are anxious to just get the whole divorce over with in order to move on with their lives.

However, as healthy as it may be to let go of all the anger and negativity, it is also important to not be too quick to agree to things that may not be in your best interest financially when it comes to your divorce.

Financial advisers suggest several areas where you should never agree, and just say no, regardless of how angry your soon-to-be ex-spouse may get over your “uncooperative” attitude. Additionally, it is acceptable to vocalize your disagreement involving child custody arrangements. If your spouse is pushing for an arrangement that you feel is unworkable, or is not in the best interests of your child, do not agree with it. This can be especially true in situations where a spouse insists on shared custody, yet travels a great deal for work. He or she may be putting too much focus on “winning” and not enough focus on what is really a workable arrangement for everyone. Share your objections with your attorney and let him or her negotiate a better solution.

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 Posted on November 10, 2014 in Divorce

One of the biggest complaints that married couples have—and often one of the major reasons for divorce—is that too often, the romance has left the marriage. Many of the romantic interactions between the couple during their courtship and newlywed years seem to disappear over time. And now a new study has revealed that the longer a couple is together, the less likely they are to tell each other “I love you.”

The study surveyed 2,072 adults who were in committed relationships. The age of these relationships ranged from just a few months all the way to 50 years. As one would expect, couples who were in fairly new relationships (two to five years) shared “I love you” with their partner on a daily basis.

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 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.

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