Military Divorce Rate Climbs – Are Multiple Deployments at Fault?

Recent Study Reveals Increased Length In Deployments Will Increase The Risk Of Military Divorce

military divorce ohioA recent study conducted by the RAND Corporation with the Department of Defense sponsorship found that increased length in deployments will increase the risk of divorce.  The study goes into detail regarding marriages originating prior to and after the September 11, 2001, attacks.  The study found that couples who married prior to the attacks and had one of the spouses deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan were over 20% more likely to divorce than couples who married after the September 11 attacks.  The researchers conducting this study believed that this was likely due to the fact that couples who married after the attacks were better equipped to deal with the challenges of war.

Another study conducted in 2011 found that military divorce rates overall had an uptick from what they had been in the past.  This study found that from 2000-2011 the enlisted military divorce rate increased drastically from 2.9% to 4.2%, edging out the civilian rate of divorce.  A San Diego divorce attorney opined that the increased rate is caused most likely by the low age of most military members and the lack of emotional … Read More... “Military Divorce Rate Climbs – Are Multiple Deployments at Fault?”

Divorce: Addressing High Conflict Cases – Tips and Strategies

High Conflict Divorce Tied With High Conflict Personalities According To Therapists

divorceOn March 24th, 2014, I traveled from Dayton, Ohio to Mason, Ohio to interview Brenda Patton, Therapist, Parenting Coordinator, and Mediator for The Counseling and Cooperative Parenting Center of Ohio, LLC, also known as “CCPC – Ohio”.  Initially, I was interested in interviewing a spokesperson of this Parenting Center as they were a “private” entity providing supervised visitation or supervised parenting time for families in Montgomery, Warren, and Hamilton Counties. When I learned that the service of supervised visitation had been discontinued in July 2013, I explored other topics of interest. When Ms. Patton advised me that the Center was interested in working with “high conflict” divorce matters, my interest was piqued.

What is a “high conflict” divorce matter?  Ms. Patton defined it as being cases that have a “revolving door” relationship with the Domestic Relations Courts. They are the cases that are never resolved or settled.  Months and/or years after divorce has been finalized, the parties are still returning to Court to resolve unsettled issues relating to support, visitation, selection of schools, selection of treating physicians, payment of medical expenses, payment of extracurricular expenses, etc. These cases often … Read More... “Divorce: Addressing High Conflict Cases – Tips and Strategies”

Divorce Rates on the Climb as the Economy Recovers

Recent Spike In Divorce Rates Tied To Economy Study Suggests

divorceInterestingly, while the total number of new cases filed in Ohio in 2012 hit a 10-year low, the same cannot be said about divorce actions.  Ohio has seen a recent spike in divorce after a steady decline for the past decade.  To get a better grasp on why this is occurring, we must first look at the statistics of divorce in the Greater Dayton Area and Ohio in general.

In Montgomery County, according to the Ohio Department of Public Health, the 2010 divorce rate was 65.2 per 100 marriages. The 2009 rate was 60 per 100, and the 2008 was 53.5 per 100.

Comparing Montgomery County to the rest of Ohio in 2010, Montgomery County had a rate of nearly 10 marriages per 100 higher that ended in divorce. (Ohio’s 2010 rate was just over 50 per 100).

A recent divorce study found that nationwide, divorces often increase with the economy.  Meaning the better the economy the more divorces we see.  This is often associated with the expenses that a divorce can cost, illustrating that couples often hold on through a rough financial time until they’re able to split.  … Read More... “Divorce Rates on the Climb as the Economy Recovers”

Divorce: Not a Do-It-Yourself Project

Tips On How To Move Ahead In Divorce

Help And Support From Professionals Key To Moving Forward In Divorce

divorceFrequently, people who are unhappy in their marriages wait until after the holiday season to move ahead with the dissolution of their marriage.  If you are one of those folks who have made this decision, you know it is not easy to make that first move.  Sometimes people struggle for years in unhappy relationships before they decide it is time to end the marriage.

How to move ahead?  Find a good lawyer and therapist.  They will be part of your team as you begin the arduous process of untangling your marriage.  These professionals will help and support you through the process – making sure that when your divorce is final, you are as secure as you can be – both emotionally and legally.

No doubt about it – divorce is a major life changing decision.  It is a stressful time – you, your spouse and your children will be impacted emotionally, financially, practically and legally.

So, it is surprising when so many couples decide to proceed with the legal uncoupling without legal counsel!  Here are some reasons people choose to represent … Read More... “Divorce: Not a Do-It-Yourself Project”

Divorce in Ohio: Can the Court Order an Unequal Property Division?

Might You Be Entitled to a Distributive Award of Property in Your Divorce Case?

divorceWhat Constitutes Normal Property Division in a Divorce?

When a divorce occurs, property and assets are to be split equitably by the Court which typically involves a 50/50 split.  This approach generally covers all property obtained during the marriage.  This is true regardless of the basis (or grounds) for the break-up of the marriage.

What Happens if One Spouse Commits Financial Misconduct?

Unfortunately, sometimes a party anticipating a divorce will commit acts of fraud, concealment or transfer property to avoid dividing any assets. When this type of conduct occurs and it can be sufficiently proven, courts may order an unequal division of property and issue a “distributive award”.  The courts are given broad discretion in deciding how to separate the assets, and this discretion is given significant deference on review by appellate courts.

Statutory Definition Regarding Property Division in a Divorce:

ORC 3105.171 states that in a divorce or dissolution:

“(3) The court shall require each spouse to disclose in a full and complete manner all marital property, separate property, and other assets, debts, income, and expenses of the spouse.”

The statute clearly states a very … Read More... “Divorce in Ohio: Can the Court Order an Unequal Property Division?”

Divorce Study: Are Your Siblings Saving Your Marriage?

Divorce Rates Lowered By Number Of Siblings In Family Says Study

divorceA new study co-authored by Ohio State’s Doug Downey seems to indicate that growing up with more siblings can reduce your chance of divorce later in life.

The study conducted involved analyzing data collected by the “General Social Survey.”  This data was compiled from 1972 to 2012 and was compiled of over 57 thousand adults.  The resulting analysis led to a conclusive theory that each sibling you have can reduce your chances of divorce later in life by up to 2% each from sibling 3 to 7.

Downey, commenting on the analysis, stated that, “When you compare children from large families to those with only one child, there is a meaningful gap in the probability of divorce.”

The other co-author of the study, Donna Bobbitt-Zeher, Ph.D., discussed the findings in a different light.  Dr. Bobbitt-Zeher stated that the results weren’t only in having different relationships between siblings, but how the families changed their mind-set when another sibling was added.   Insofar as the personal relationship aspect, Downey stated that:

  • “Growing up in a family with siblings, you develop a set of skills for negotiating both negative and positive interactions.
… Read More... “Divorce Study: Are Your Siblings Saving Your Marriage?”

Divorce: Is Your Child Emotionally Manipulating You?

How Emotional Minipulation Affects Family and Children in Divorce

Child Psychologist Gregory Ramey Offers His Advice For Parents After Divorce

divorce“I wouldn’t be having these problems if you hadn’t divorced my dad,” declared 15-year-old Lashona during an angry outburst with her mom. There was an uneasy silence followed by mom giving her a big hug and apologizing for the way the divorce has affected the family.

Mom’s reaction was completely understandable but wrong. She was the victim of her daughter’s emotional manipulation.

We all go about our day trying to influence other people to get what we want, and kids do the same thing. Emotional manipulation occurs when someone tries to elicit an emotional reaction from another to divert attention from the real issue. This is like a magician using misdirection, trying to get you to look elsewhere to conceal the magic trick. Kids can be good at such manipulation, taking advantage of parental empathy to escape personal responsibility. Here are the two most common types of misdirection used by kids.

  1. Guilt. Parents aren’t perfect and often feel badly for not living up to their own unachievable expectations. It’s easy for kids to take advantage of this parental vulnerability.
… Read More... “Divorce: Is Your Child Emotionally Manipulating You?”
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