Posted on October 10, 2014 in Family Law

The results of a recent marital research study, published in the October issue of the Journal of Marriage and Family, further confirms that the key to a happy marriage is as simple as keeping the wife happy and content. Rutgers University, in collaboration with the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research, revisited this marital landscape with a new twist. This time, the research team opted to consider the feelings of both spouses. The results indicate that the happier the wife is within the marriage the happier the husband is, no matter the negative marital connotations of the paternal persuasion.

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 Posted on October 08, 2014 in Divorce

Your divorce is history. You have thanked your experienced divorce attorney for his or her support and fundamental knowledge of the Illinois Marriage and Marriage Dissolution Act (750 ILCS 5), and now it is now time for you to move on.

After the customary grieving period, you now feel as if you could put on your dancing shoes, kick up a little dust, and get back out there. However, the decision to date after divorce is one of the most stressful situations a newly single person can endure.

Even though you may have convinced yourself that you are ready to rejoin the single life, the odds of finding a suitor in the grocery aisle may be slim to none. Is joining an online dating service in your future?

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 Posted on October 03, 2014 in Divorce

A new study by the Austin Institute reveals that women are more likely than men to be unhappy in their marriage. The study, “Divorce in America,” also examined the reasons why people file for divorce. Researchers compiled data from the “Relationships in America” survey project that the institute recently conducted. There were 15,000 American adults between the ages of 18 to 60 who were surveyed. Of that group, nearly 4,000 were divorced. According to a statement released by the institute, data was used to assess “how people think about divorce, who wants out of marriages more, and why they want out.”

Twenty percent of the women surveyed said they had considered divorcing their spouse within the past year. Only 13 percent of men said they had considered leaving their marriage. Overall, 13 percent of married respondents had actually discussed separating with their spouse within the past year but had yet to separate.

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 Posted on October 01, 2014 in Divorce

A study published in the Journal of Consumer Affairs found childhood stress may be the cause of compulsive behavior habits in adulthood. In fact, experiencing parents divorcing was cited as one of the major stressors children can experience. The root of this behavior, cites lead researcher Dr. George P. Moschis of Georgetown University, is that when a child is dealing with upheaval and stress in the home, they look for comfort and satisfaction away from the home.

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 Posted on September 29, 2014 in Divorce

It is not unusual for a couple to cancel a pending divorce to try and rekindle their relationship, even after a divorce attorney has been retained and papers have been drawn. According to a 2011 study, there is an increased level of desire among couples in regards to wanting a marriage to survive, especially when children involved. The study, “Interest in Marital Reconciliation Among Divorcing Parents”, concluded that 45 percent of the 2,500 couples surveyed favored possible reconciliation. Therefore, if you are currently separated from your spouse but are still unsure if divorce is the best option for your marriage, it may be beneficial to determine exactly where you stand before making any life altering decisions. 

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 Posted on September 24, 2014 in Divorce

There is no doubt that women significantly contribute to today’s workforce. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Women’s Bureau, the American workforce is comprised of 127.1 million women and is only expected to increase. To further break down the demographic, single mothers, with children under 18 years of age, comprised 74.2 percent of mothers in the workforce in 2013. Married mothers ranked at 67.8 percent. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics further defines working single mothers as women who never married or those working due to an absent spouse caused by separation, divorce or death.

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 Posted on September 19, 2014 in Family Law

According to the National Stepfamily Resource Center, between 50 to 60 percent of first marriages end in divorce. Approximately 75 percent of those who divorce will remarry, and 65 percent of those couples will have children from prior marriages. In fact, a survey conducted by Pew Research Center about stepfamilies and blended families found that almost half of all adults in this country have at least one step relative.

In the study, the center surveyed 2,691 adults. Forty-two percent of those participating reported having a step-sibling, stepparent or stepchild. The research team asked participants a series of questions and compared the answers of those who had blended families to those who did not.

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 Posted on September 15, 2014 in Domestic Violence

Studies have linked substance abuse to domestic violence, and this type of abuse can lead to an increase in the divorce rate, as many victims of domestic violence leave their spouses. However, a new study surprisingly revealed a decrease in domestic violence for spouses who frequently use marijuana.

The study was conducted by researchers from Rutgers University, the University of Buffalo and Yale University. The goal of the survey was to measure how marijuana use affected rates of intimate partner violence (IPV). For the purpose of the study, the research team identified hitting, slapping, choking, and beating as intimate partner violence.

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 Posted on September 11, 2014 in Family Law

With the finalization of your divorce, you suddenly realize you are now a newly single individual. Your experienced divorce attorney assisted you through the challenges of continual maintenance support payments, child visitation schedules, child support calculations, and the equitable division of all marital property. However, is it also time to perform one last legal action?

Legally changing your name and reclaiming your independence may be the one legal action remaining on your post divorce bucket list. This decision should not be done in haste, especially if children are involved, but it is a personal decision you may consider.

If you reside in Illinois, Statute 735 ILCS (5/21-101) permits you to petition the court to validate your request for a legal name change. Illinois, as well as many other states, established a preset protocol to discourage individuals from haphazardly requesting a name change for those trying to avoid legal issues or erase a criminal background.

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 Posted on September 09, 2014 in Divorce

You and your spouse mutually decided to separate, and your spouse opts to file the necessary paperwork with a qualified divorce attorney. Aside from the emotional turmoil this decision brought forth, you realize that you will need to follow suit and retain an Illinois divorce attorney as well. You also realize that you will soon become quite familiar with the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (750 ILCS 5). But aside from the legalities involved, there are a few simple steps you can take to retain your composure and let your qualified attorney take the lead. While retaining a knowledgeable Illinois family law attorney is your primary line of dissolution defense, there are a few general legal do’s and don’ts to remember as you move forward in the divorce process.

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