Tag Archives: Effects of Divorce

The Race to the Courthouse: Does Filing First Matter in Divorce?

Once you have reached the decision to end your marriage, the real work must begin. You and your spouse will need to decide how to divide your property, how to make arrangement for your children, and how to adjust to your new post-divorce lives. Before you can get there, however, one of you will need to start the legal process of divorce by filing a petition for the dissolution of marriage at the county courthouse. Many clients approach us with questions about this, often wondering how important it is to be the one who file for divorce and whether it makes any difference at all.

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How Divorce Could Impact Your Child

If you and your spouse are considering calling it quits, you probably have many concerns. Divorce can affect your finances, living situation, and especially your children. What should you expect your children to experience and feel if you and your spouse split? Every situation is different, but experts agree that there are some common themes to be aware of when it comes to how divorce will impact your child.

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Children and Divorce: How to Help Your Child Work through Your Marital Breakup

Divorce is hard for families. Amid discussions of property division, alimony, new living arrangements, and changing relationships, children can feel like they have lost control of their lives. This can lead to feelings of anger, sadness, anxiety, and even regret and guilt for some children. During this difficult time, your children need your support more than ever. Be there for them as you and your spouse work through your divorce and move forward with your changed lives.

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Gallup Poll Suggests Divorce Stress May Hit Women Harder

There is little question that divorce stress can affect everyone involved. Both spouses, any children, mutual friends, and often extended families on both sides may be forced to deal with uncomfortable changes resulting from the split. According to a recent study, women may be more likely than men to experience a marked increase in stress and stress-related behaviors following a divorce or separation.

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Framingham Heart Study: Research Suggests Divorce May Be Contagious

“Approaching the epidemiology of divorce from the perspective of an epidemic may be apt in more than way than one,” wrote Rose McDermott, professor at Brown University’s Watson Institute for International Studies. Dr. McDermott studied interviews with more than 5000 individuals over a 30-plus year period in one of the country’s longest running longitudinal research projects. She continued, “The contagion of divorce can spread through a social network like a rumor, affecting friends up to two degrees removed.”

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Framingham Heart Study: Research Suggests Divorce May Be Contagious

“Approaching the epidemiology of divorce from the perspective of an epidemic may be apt in more than way than one,” wrote Rose McDermott, professor at Brown University’s Watson Institute for International Studies. Dr. McDermott studied interviews with more than 5000 individuals over a 30-plus year period in one of the country’s longest running longitudinal research projects. She continued, “The contagion of divorce can spread through a social network like a rumor, affecting friends up to two degrees removed.”

Continue reading Framingham Heart Study: Research Suggests Divorce May Be Contagious

Children of Divorce: Divorce May Affect Wealthier Children More

Nearly 900,000 divorces and annulments occur each year in the United States. Couples of all races, religions, and income brackets are divorcing at fairly consistent rate. One of the primary concerns about divorce has always been how children of divorce adjust to their parents’ breakup. New research, however, seems to indicate that children of divorce who come from low to middle-income families fare better after divorce than their higher-income counterparts.

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Two Homes Can Be Better than One for Children of Divorce

Life can get very confusing and complicated for children of divorce. Even in the best of situations, children can often feel like mere assets to be divided by their parents like furniture or cars. Regardless of how you feel about your ex during and after the divorce, it is extremely important that your children’s comfort and well-being are not overlooked.

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Consequences of Divorce on Children in Illinois Child Custody Cases

Getting a divorce from a spouse who you have children with can be one of the most difficult and emotional times of your life. Unfortunately, this same emotional and psychological stress often carries over to your former spouse, and subsequently, to the children as well. This is one of the biggest mistakes you can make during an Illinois divorce; causing negative consequences may be seen immediately, but also can have terrible long term effects on the childrens’ physical and mental health.

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Understanding Illinois Custody Statutes

If you have children and are going through a divorce, separation, or are not married to your children’s mother/father, you know that custody and visitation issues can be difficult.  Understanding your rights and the reasons behind the laws is an important step to making an ultimate decision.

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