Custody Agreements Are Getting More Complex

It was not so long ago that a custody agreement consisted of a one-page document, essentially stating that the children would live primarily with one parent, and the other parent would see the children as agreed by the parties. Now it is not uncommon to see 20+ pages, outlining minute details including such things as the time the children will be available for phone calls from the other parent, to what third parties may attend activities of the children. A Washington Post article details some of the complexities of religious issues in agreements. No matter how detailed a plan may be, with some parents, disputes will still arise which may require assistance to reach resolution.

Is Divorce Always the Right Answer?

It is not uncommon for one spouse to file for divorce without being truly committed to the idea of divorce. Perhaps the couple tried marriage counseling, to no avail, and the only other door that opened was the one to the courthouse. Minnesota’s Hennepin County Family Court has started a pilot project through the University of Minnesota to offer couples counseling to see if divorce is the road to take, or if reconciliation is an option. This program, called Couples on the Brink, provides access to discernment counselors for up to five sessions. Unlike marriage counseling that assumes both people are willing to work on the marriage, discernment counselors help people decide whether to work on their marriage or stay on the path to dissolving their relationship.

What is the Impact of Divorce on Embryos?

The stress related to infertility in a marriage sometimes leads to divorce, and frozen embryos from in vitro fertilization procedures can become part of the fight. Courts are ill-adept at dealing with such disputes, and a case on appeal in Pennsylvania is the first one in which a court ruled in favor of the wife keeping the embryos over the wishes of her husband. There remains much uncertainty over how these issues should be handled – and out of court settlements should be attempted by the parties.

The Perfect Divorce

Although rare, sometimes divorce can be the start of a new beginning for partners who really weren’t meant to be partners. Jonathan Weiler and Anne Menkens divorced ten years ago and are writing a book about the closeness they developed as friends and parents once they realized they should no longer be married.Article.

Fewer U.S. Adults Marrying

A report released by Pew Research Center finds that the number of couples tying the knot last year dropped sharply – by 5%. The prolonged economic downtown has made it more difficult for young adults to pay their own expenses let alone begin a family, so marriage is being put off. The upside to waiting to get married? It reduces the risk of divorce. Summary of report.

Now that You Are Divorced – How Will You Use Social Media?

When your divorce is final – especially if you were not the initiator – you may be tempted to shout out to everyone on Facebook the evils of your ex. And you may become obsessed by stalking him or her either through following them on Twitter, or constantly checking status updates. DON’T DO IT! Here are some thoughts to thoughts to ponder when temptation arises.

Thinking About Committing Adultery? It May Be Illegal In Your State

Couples often end up in family court as the result of an affair by one or both parties. Laws remain on the books in 23 states that allow for the prosecution of adulterers. Missouri is not one of those states, but in the ones where it is a crime, the punishment ranges from a $10 fine to life imprisonment – yes, in these United States. Mother Jones offers a map with a state by state analysis.