Robert L. Mues, Author at Ohio Family Law Blog

Blast From The Past: Post-Divorce: Here Are Three Ways to Declutter Negative Thoughts After Recent Divorce. Is it Time for Some Spring Cleaning for Your Mind?

declutter negative thoughts divorce support system

Declutter Negative Thoughts After Divorce

PUBLISHERS NOTE: Here is one of my favorites posts from back on March 14th, 2022! We have a ton of interesting articles in our archives of the Ohio Family Law Blog. Use our Search tool and enjoy a few oldie but goodies!

Spring Cleaning for the Mind? How to Declutter Negative Thoughts After Divorce

The sight of blooming flower blossoms always prompts the itch to spring clean. While we may toss out our junk, scrub the floors, and dust the furniture, we often don’t take the time to declutter the negative thoughts that intrude in our minds daily. This is especially true for recently divorced individuals, who often experience loneliness, anxiety, guilt, and grief.

Here are three ways to declutter those negative thoughts just in time to welcome the change of the seasons!

Engage in Self-Care

Self-care is perhaps one of the easiest ways to start decluttering negative thoughts after a divorce. We hear often about doing self-care, but what exactly is self-care?

Self-care is generally defined as doing anything to improve one’s mental health. This can be done in a variety of ways. It can be as simple as reading a book for

Be Sure to Take Care of Your Mental Health After Your Divorce!

Statistics on Post-Divorce Depression

Effective Coping Strategies for Post-Divorce Depression

Going through a divorce can take its toll on you in multiple ways. Although one might think that reaching the “finish line” in a divorce will end the emotional turmoil that often accompanies it, that is not always the situation. The post-divorce adjustment period can be a challenging and unique one! It is common that individuals find themselves dealing with a myriad of emotional challenges after divorce, including loneliness and unhappiness which can lead to depression. In this blog post, we will discuss some post-divorce statistics and suggest some tips and resources to help avoid experiencing these types of problems.

Some Concerning Post-Divorce Statistics

Studies show that depression rates are 20-25% higher for those who experience divorce contrasted with those who have not been divorced. Additionally, some show that 50% of divorces reported at least 1 depressive episode after their divorce. This increase in depression rates can be linked to multiple feelings like loneliness, grief, and isolation. The Holmes-Rahe Life Stress Inventory study shows that divorce is second, right behind death of a spouse, that is one of the most stressful situations people endure through life. Depression can range from … Read More... “Be Sure to Take Care of Your Mental Health After Your Divorce!”

Blast From The Past: An Overview of Child Custody Proceedings in Ohio

PUBLISHER’S NOTE – I emailed this blog from August of 2021 to a possible new client this week. Custody cases are typically complex and very fact sensitive. But here are the basics. The information in it is still correct, but the new term for “visitation” is “parenting time”. Try the search bar above to focus in on a huge variety of articles we have published since 2007!

Understanding the Intricacies of Ohio’s Child Custody Laws

Ohio law is gender neutral in custody determinations – meaning there is no preference towards the mother or father being granted custody. In divorce court, “shared parenting” between the mother and father is generally the preferred parenting arrangement instead of sole custody to one parent. If a parent is awarded sole custody, they have the decision-making rights over where a child will attend school and major legal or medical decisions on their behalf. However, that is not always the case and the “best interest” test is employed to determine the best interest of the child.

A court takes into consideration numerous factors such as: the mental and physical health of both parents, any history of domestic violence, child abuse or neglect, and parents’ … Read More... “Blast From The Past: An Overview of Child Custody Proceedings in Ohio”

Here are Some Recent Divorce Statistics that Might Surprise You!

Divorce rate statistics…why do marriages fail?

Divorce rate Statistics in the United States, what do they tell us and what are The Most Common Reasons for Divorce?

If you have read many of my blogs which I have posted here over the last 16 years, you will know that I enjoy divorce and family law statistics. In fact, my wife says that I am a “stat junkie”. She might be right!

I came across an excellent Forbes article from August that is filled with current interesting divorce statistics, even including footnotes citing the authority. Click here to read it. Here are some of the many included that I found most interesting!

Number of Divorces Versus the Number of Marriages.

In 2021, a total of 689,308 divorces occurred in the 45 reporting states. While not apples to apples, during the same year there were 1.985,072 marriages. Clearly far more individuals get married than divorced.

When do Couples Typically Divorce?

Marriages that fail typically last about 8 years.

Has the Marriage and the Divorce Rate Dropped Since 2000?

Yes. They both have. The marriage rate has declined, dropping from 8.2 per population in 2000 to 6.00 per population in 2021. … Read More... “Here are Some Recent Divorce Statistics that Might Surprise You!”

Negotiating Pre-Nuptial Agreements is Becoming Commonplace for Millennials

pre-nuptial agreements divorce millennials

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: While this blog addresses Pre-nuptial Agreements, the same rational equally applies to millennials executing Post-Nuptial Agreements. On March 23, 2023, Ohio adopted legislation allowing married couples to now negotiate and execute Post-Nuptial Agreements after marriage. The 2 nuptial agreements are very similar. I have posted several articles on the Ohio Family Law Blog about Post-Nuptial agreements since that law was adopted. Use my SEARCH tool above to find them!

With the increase in student loans and previous debts, millennials are looking to ensure that they are not responsible for debts incurred by their spouse should the union dissolve

Baby boomers, and many generations before, used to dream about finding the right one, getting married and living happily ever after, never giving any thoughts about what happens if things didn’t go right. Pre-nuptial agreements were just a thing for movie stars and rich people or stereotypically, men who were financially wealthy and wanted to protect their wealth from a potentially “gold digging” wife. It used to be that pre-nuptial agreements were frowned upon. They seemed to be sending a message that you weren’t serious about the responsibilities of getting married.

However, times have changed. The millennials have … Read More... “Negotiating Pre-Nuptial Agreements is Becoming Commonplace for Millennials”

How to Cope with Valentine’s Day for the Newly Divorced. Who Really Needs Cupid Anyway?

Be kind to yourself this Valentine’s Day!

PUBLISHERS NOTE:

It has been a long time since I wrote a blog about dealing with Valentine’s Day for the newly divorced. Actually, it has been 15 years ago! I pulled that old article up. The advice in it still rings true today. I offered 8 suggestions then. Today, I am reposting it after tweaking it some and adding 3 more tips. Hopefully, a suggestion or two might turn out to be helpful!

Divorced and No Valentine? Here are some Valentine’s Day Tips To Make Your Day Enjoyable

Valentine’s Day is the start of the busy season for Dayton divorce lawyers. Many couples wait until after the holidays and it gives them time to file their taxes “jointly” and receive a larger refund. It also can be a reckoning day when people decide that they deserve better.

While romance abounds with cupid’s magic for some, it also can be a difficult time for many divorced individuals who don’t have a valentine to share it with.

Here are some tips from Jennifer McCarron and Eugene Kayser, licensed family therapists from Abington, Pennsylvania:

Ignore the holiday. Think about Valentine’s Day like a holiday for a