Recent Blog Posts
How to Cope with the Stresses of Divorce
New York Magazine recently published an article revealing a study that analyzed the top reasons for divorce. Although it is a common assumption that financial problems are the biggest factor when it comes to the dissolution of a marriage, the top five main causes listed were:
- Infidelity;
- Incompatibility;
- Drinking or drug use;
- The couple grew apart; and
- Personality problems.
Any one of these issues can be the source of high amounts of stress for either person involved whether or not it results in divorce. Divorce is not typically a hasty decision. There are often arguments, discussions, and feelings of anxiety, anger, and sadness that lead up to the decision, which take an emotional toll on the body.
Can Entering into a Postnuptial Agreement Actually Save Your Marriage?
Although prenuptial agreements often evoke sensational headlines or solicit spirited conversations of couples entering into high asset marriages, surprisingly, a well drafted postnuptial agreement may actually save a marriage.
Although different in nature than a prenuptial, the postnuptial serves as a goal-orientated plan to weather the marital shifts evident throughout the life of a marriage.
By entering into a sound postnuptial agreement, couples often avoid financial and stress-producing conflicts in the event of a divorce or the uncertainties of the future in the event a spouse passes unexpectedly.
Facing the New Year on Your Own: Redefining Resolutions Post Divorce
Voluntarily executing a celebratory resolution dates back more than 4,000 years. Beginning with ancient Babylonian society and expanding throughout the Roman empire, these affirmations were tied directly to harvest celebrations or political affiliations. It was not until 1740 that the practice of making a New Year’s resolution became ingrained into western civilization.
The father of the modern-day resolution, John Wesley, initiated the Methodist Covenant Renewal Service during the holiday season as an alternative to holiday festivities and to personally renew one’s religious covenant. As these resolutions evolved into a secular tradition, most Americans now equate New Year resolutions with voluntary personal improvement pledges. The U.S. Government even pays homage to the most popular of resolutions such as losing weight, quitting smoking, eating healthier, or better managing debt or stress. But what if the New Year brings forth non-voluntary changes such as divorce?
Which Comes First: Birth or Marriage Certificate?
Years ago, it was considered a scandal if a woman had a child out of wedlock. But today, this is no longer the case. Couples are now making the decision to fill out a birth certificate before they fill out a marriage certificate. And for parents who have a child before marriage, there may be emotional and legal issues to consider.
A recent study discovered that couples, who eventually plan to get married, are better off making that move before their child turns three years old. This helps a child to form the strongest bonds possible with both parents.
The study was performed by researchers from Duke University, who examined information from 5,200 children who were born to unmarried parents. Titled, “Magic Moment? Maternal Marriage in Children Born out of Wedlock,” the study suggests that the “magic moment” parents feel right after a baby is born actually lasts longer than prior research held it did. This magic moment is what researchers refer to as the time that an unwed couple would be more open to the idea of marriage.
Fighting Your Fears in a Child Custody Battle
Going through a divorce is emotionally draining. In many ways, it is like a death that has to be mourned. A contentious divorce can be especially stressful with both legal and personal wrangling over finances and property. Most parents would agree, however, that nothing is more emotionally trying than being involved in a child custody battle with a spouse. It not only causes stress and anger, but also fear of losing a child.
However, if you are involved in a child custody battle, there are steps you can take to help alleviate those fears and minimize the damage to your family’s quality of life.
The Bigger the Age Gap, the Bigger the Divorce Risk
A new study has concluded what many people have suspected—and snickered about— for some time. Those May/December romances just do not work out in the long term, and the bigger the age gap, the higher the chance is for divorce.
Researchers from the University of Atlanta conducted a study, in which they surveyed 3,000 people. The participants were either married or divorced over the past five years and were asked questions pertaining to their marriage. Questions included duration of the marriage, and how long they dated their spouse, and the length of their engagement. The study was titled, "’A Diamond is Forever’ and Other Fairy Tales: The Relationship between Wedding Expenses and Marriage Duration."
Study Reveals the Number of Siblings May Reduce Divorce Rate
A nationwide study, reported by The Huffington Post and conducted by Ohio State University, may encourage you to take a moment and thank your siblings for the success of your marriage. In fact, the study’s co-authors, Doug Downey, Donna Bobbitt-Zeher, and Joseph Merry, concluded that having multiple siblings can greatly reduce your risk of divorce.
The research trio, who analyzed compiled data of the General Social Survey, documented 57,000 personal participant interviews spanning the United States from 1972 through 2012. The data provided an informed consensus that for each sibling up to seven, the risk of divorce among siblings decreased by at least 2 percent per sibling.
Property Casualty Insurance Inventory: Place Value on Your Divorce
Preparing for a divorce can be grueling. Not only are your responsible for “keeping it all together”—perhaps for the sake of the children involved or for your personal sanity—but there are additional tasks to undertake.
Aside from attending to the tasks related to the rearrangement of your personal life, meeting with your qualified family law attorney to discuss child support, visitation, spousal maintenance, and the division of marital property takes a lead position on your ever growing task list.
As your attorney advises you to gather all financial documentation in preparation of a fair and equitable divorce settlement, and per the previous recommendations of the American Insurance Association (AIA), a leader in U.S. property-casualty insurance trade, you should already have one document readily accessible.
Helping Children Adjust to Divorce
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.
Unethical Practice of Hiding Assets: The Other Marital Cheater
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.
