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Men More Likely to Remarry Than Women?

No one has ever questioned the want to get remarried after a divorce. It seems like the logical next step in modern times to try to find that one special person again. Since the 1970’s, divorce has embedded itself in our pop culture. So it is natural that this would a situation where people are going on second and even third marriages.  Recently, however, a study was released that showed a disparity between the paths of male and females when approaching the possibility of a second marriage after a divorce.

Gender Disparity in Second Helpings

A recent study released says that divorced men are get over their complicated break-ups faster, and are more willing and ready to remarry than divorced women.  The study of 2,000 adults found that 47% of divorced men are more eager to wed again, compared to just 20% of previously married women. This contrasts the traditional,and somewhat sexist notion, that women are looking for love more than men.

A further 42% of divorced men admitted they were keen to get back on the dating scene. Women were reported to be slightly more reserved about venturing back into the dating world with less than one in five considering doing the same thing. 31% of divorced men also revealed they have tried venturing into the internet dating world following their marriage break-up, compared to 19% of women.

The State of Relationships

This UK study, finished and released to coincide with the DVD release of Crazy, Stupid, Love, surveyed 2,000 divorced adults. The reason and the way the study itself was done says something about where we are as a society concerning the repetition of failed relationships and the new movie genre dealing with the recovery from a failed marriage.

Yet given research study limitations, they should always be taken with a grain of salt. Many contrasting studies exist, showing “proof” of one idea or another, or making a claim to the effect of divorce on everyone from children to the family pet. One thing is for certain though: Divorce, as well as second and third marriages, are here to stay. Understanding the divorce process and everything that goes along with it, both emotionally and legally, can help minimize the residual damage this permanent  relationship schism.

Social Security & Alimony

 

It isn’t typical for an alimony case to be associated with the U.S Supreme Court, however, in one case from the state of Oregon this is exactly what happened. The dispute between spouses over alimony from Linn County, Oregon in 2009 finally came to a conclusion after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the case entirely.

The case involved a spouse who was disputing the fact that he had to pay alimony of any kind, even though he was ordered to do so under the divorce statutes of the state of Oregon. The husband decreed that he couldn’t pay alimony as his only means of income came from Social Security benefits.

Technicalities
Many things can complicate the finalization of any divorce, especially in the areas of child support or spousal support. Even if the spouses generally agree on issues of property division, child support, or spousal support, the process is no easy task.  More often, there is some disagreement over issues, such as one spouse’s obligation to pay or how the division of marital debt should be accomplished.

In this particular case, both the Oregon Court of Appeals and the Oregon Supreme Court refused to hear the case, which involved the husband’s obligation to pay alimony. The husband, whose only income is provided by disability benefits from the Social Security and Veterans Administrations, argued his VA disability benefits cannot be used to determine spousal support obligations because such payments are solely intended for the welfare of the veteran. He was technically true in his argument, but the family law court trumped this rule in favor of the wife in question.

Ruling

The husband was ordered to pay $1,000 per month in alimony to his ex-wife based on the combined total of his SSDI and VA benefits. The Uniformed Services Former Spouses’ Protection Act (FSPA) specifically states benefits for veterans are subject to divorce judgments; meaning whatever ruling the divorce court made would overrule all previous rulings or acts put into place. This federal law was passed in response to a Supreme Court holding in 1981 that protected military retirement funds from spousal support awards.

None of the appellate courts apparently found legal merit in the husband’s argument that the FSPA was not intended to be applied to disability benefits for veterans’ spouses.

Fighting his way all the way past multiple failed attempts, the husband finally took  his case to the U.S. Supreme court, where the case was thrown out. The husband was ordered to pay his alimony and in turn lost money through legal fees and court fees in order to have his case turned away again.

Being Amicable Pays Dividends
Resolving financial matters is a vital part of the divorce process, as both spouses have a vital interest in securing an independent future and maintaining their lifestyles to the best extent possible. This being said, however, fighting as far as the U.S Supreme Court, after failed attempts in smaller court, is just a waste of time. Laws are set in place to look out for the best interest of children and to financially support spouses after the dissolution is finalized. Moral of the story: Being amicable, making a plan, and agreeing, always works best.

Life, Marriages, Divorces, & Singles

Since divorce laws were made more acceptable in the 1970’s, there has always been a debate about the long term effects accessible divorce would have on marriage. The “marriage will become obsolete” argument has been stated, refuted, and stated again for decades now. However, there are examples and studies that show some areas of marriage declining, and divorce may not be the culprit. Many factors exist in society which can push people either one way or another as far as relationships and marriage; and divorce is just once facet of the evolving social climate.

Taking the Temperature Study

According to a recent study at Pew survey, many single Americans of all ages were asked whether they were in a committed relationship or whether they were looking for a partner. The largest portion of single persons, 55 %, stated that they were NOT in a committed relationship and that they were NOT looking to enter into a committed relationship leading towards marriage.

Another survey done by both Pew and Time magazine asked direct questions to a number of participants. The ‘single’ participants who were surveyed with the question, “Do you want to get married?” gave an interesting answer. Understandably, the question question was very basic, but the answers cannot be denied: Only 46% said ‘yes.’ This means about a quarter of the singles (a group that includes the divorced, widowed, cohabiting, or always-single) stated  they do not want to marry, and 29% responded they were not sure. For the divorced and widowed, the number of participants who stated they wanted to marry sunk to 22%, with 46% saying they do not want to marry, and 32% unsure.

In another nationwide survey, sampling 2,691 people living in America who are 18 and older, participants were asked whether each of the listed possible goals below would be easier to accomplish if someone was married or if single. The participants could answer: (1) easier if married, (2) easier if single, or (3) it wouldn’t make any difference.

Here is the list of goals they were asked to assess by marital status:

  1. Find happiness
  2. Have social status
  3. Have fulfilling sex life
  4. Be financially secure
  5. Get ahead in career

The highest ranking answer for to all these goals was (3) it wouldn’t make any difference, with the exception of the question about raising a family, in which 77% stated (1) easier if married.

Obviously, the sampling size  is infinitely smaller compared to the population, so the results cannot be taken to mean more than they actually do. However, it’s interesting to see the mindset some  people have today when it comes to committing to marriage or even a long-term committed relationship.

Yet in all of this, divorce cannot be considered the cause of the changing mindsets of our nation. Many facets of society can sway a person in their decision-making when it comes to committing to a relationship or marriage. Marriage has changed over time, and so has divorce. Going from a considerably long and dragged out process, to being able to divorce quickly and hassle-free with the gaining popularity of online divorce. There will always be a natural ebb and flow to the way we view certain aspects of our lives. The “sky is falling” attitude can sometimes just be the initial reaction before the dust settles over a longer period of time.

Uncommon Factors in Doomed Marraiges

The world is full of contradictions and the human race is directly responsible for many of those confusing aspects in life, which may lead you to even more confusion. When it comes to marriage, divorce, and society, everyone has an opinion and no one will ever admit they really cannot predict what is going to happen in any marriage, ever. Of course one can play the statistics, and almost any sort of data chart could be made up to prove or disapprove the fact that one marriage will make it and another will end in divorce. With that being said, here are some studies done on some uncommon factors that can play a part in whether a marriage will be successful or end with divorce papers.

Simply Red

According to a study done by theNational Vital Statistics Report, married couples who live in a red state are 27% more likely to divorce than married couples who live in a blue state. Not really something many people are conscious of when settling down, but there are legitimate reasons why this could be very likely. The average age when people marry tends to younger in red states, the younger the age of a couple at the time of marriage, the riskier it is that the marriage will succeed.

Where There’s Smoke…

According to a study done by Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, if only one partner in a marriage is a smoker, the couple is 75 percent to 91 percent more likely to divorce than smokers who are married to fellow smokers. So much for putting differences aside. Although it has been proven that couples with similar values, view points, and social tendencies are more often to not only end up together but stay together. From age to preference in music genre, the little things count, and for some people, smoking is no little thing.

Age Ain’t Nothing But a… Oh Wait

From the same report by the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research comes a statistic that speaks more to male insecurity than anything else. According to the study, if you’re a woman two or more years older than your husband, your marriage is 53 percent more likely to end in divorce than if he was one year younger to three years older. Come guys, act your age; or maybe act even three years older than your age, if it can save your marriage. No surprise here either, many men are easily emasculated. Don’t fret women, if love, care, respect, and friendship can’t transcend 3 years of age difference, chances are you should get out anyway.

Divorce comes in many shapes and sizes these days; both with outlandish and crazy stories of how horrible people can be to each other, as well as the changing climate of the divorce process. If you find yourself cascading towards divorce, remember: You don’t have to drag out the whole ordeal with lawyers, courts, tears, and stress. An online divorce can be painless and much cheaper. To learn more about online divorce, visit www.mydivorcedocuments.com.

Texas Courts Allow Divorce Without Lawyers

In today’s economy, budgets are often a necessity. Even marriages with two working spouses have trouble keeping up with all the bills and living comfortably. Yet when divorce enters the picture, it can quickly become a very expensive ordeal. However, Texas lawmakers voted on a motion to help low-income families, and those filing for an easy, uncontested divorce to use forms that will allow them to move through the process without hiring an attorney.

Legal Aid

Recently reported from Texas, six of the nine Supreme Court justices have voted to approve the use of forms allowing  couples to file for divorce in Texas without hiring an attorney. After months of back and forth battling it was finally put to a vote, much to the ire of the group of family lawyers who vehemently opposed the motion.

The reason given by the lawyers was that these legal forms could lead to confusion and many legal complications if/when mistakes are made in the filing process. However, it has been reported that pro bono and legal aid attorneys can only reach about 20% of the divorce service demand last year.

In its Infancy

Back in 2011 a group of lawmakers, including lawyers, judges, and other experts, and the Texas Access to Justice Commission came together to help create the newly approved forms. The opponents of these forms, who are mostly made up of practicing attorneys, have stated that citizens will be unable to navigate the legal system without the help of an attorney. However, as you can see by the MyDivorceDocuments.com website, and the recent rise in online divorce forms, that is just flat out untrue.

What’s in a Form?

The forms may only be used by couples without children or real estate who are seeking a divorce without the aid and expenses of an attorney. The forms are said to be simple and straight forward to help make the judicial part of the process more efficient going forward. The forms are available now, but as a result of a public comment period that will last until February they may undergo some changes.

An even better route for couples both with or without children in preparing Texas divorce forms is filing for an online divorce. At MyDivorceDocuments.com we have already helped served many citizens in Texas with a logical and 100% legal way to help file for an uncontested divorce; helping save time, money, and stress for those couples who know they want to move forward but are dreading the process. To find out more about online divorce forms and how to file for an online divorce in Texas, visit www.mydivorcedocuments.com today.

Divorced Women Lose Health Insurance

Each year, thousands of couples file and go through the divorce process. While divorce has become notorious for bringing about long heated battles between husband and wife, there are other repercussions that can be more damaging than losing marital property. Health insurance is already a frequently debated topic in our nation with President Obama’s health care plan to bring about a new era in health care coverage. However, a recent study has shown that divorce of all things can affect a woman’s ability to retain their health care coverage. Let’s take a look.

Study Released

A study released by the University of Michigan and supported by the University of Michigan’s national Poverty Center shows a reoccurring problem for women after divorce. The study was analyzed and focused on nationally representative data ranging from 1996 to 2007. It had a range of ages in women from 26 to 64. The results of the study showed that 65,000 divorced women will lose all of their health insurance coverage in the months following a divorce. The reasons stated was that they no longer would qualify as dependents under their husband’s policies, and many reported being unable to afford the premiums that go with having private insurance. In spite of the financial hardships that can be a result of a divorce, many of these women do not qualify for Medicaid and other various public insurance options.

Reasons for the Repercussions

Women with employer-based jobs were said to have less trouble in losing their coverage. It was reported that women in moderate-income families face the greatest loss of insurance coverage. They are seemingly caught in the middle, while higher income women can afford private premiums and lower-income families qualify for public aid of certain kinds. Women and families in the middle can do neither.

It remains to be seen what the Affordable Care Act can do to potentially change this situation, or if it is something that will need to be readdressed separately as part of an overarching plan to get people insurance who were covered under their ex-husbands or even ex-wife’s plans. However, there are provisions that will potentially address this situation that may be of substantial help to those in need.

While divorce can be a socially and financially taxing time it doesn’t always have to be. At MyDivorceDocuments.com, we have all the information needed to learn about divorce laws and the divorce process. Pursuing an uncontested online divorce can be a way to save both time and money when entering into the divorce process. Visit www.mydivorcedocuments.com to learn how you can pursue a cheap, online divorce today.

Bizarre Divorce Story from Across the Globe

 

Throughout the years politicians have been caught doing some downright despicable things. Some closeted skeletons eventually find their way out and justice prevails. However, in a less democratic country in which the two words “Sharia law” are still bantered about comes the unnerving evidence of just how unfair some situations can be.

Divorce Woes in Indonesia

From Jarkarta, Indonesia comes a story of an imbalance of social power and divorce. Aceng Fikri is a local head of the district Garut in West Java, Indonesia. Fikri, already married with children, decided to take a second wife. While few Muslims practice polygamy, it is not against Indonesian law. However, civil servants are prohibited from taking second wives because of the strict regulation upon their private lives.

Questionable Ethics in Any Land

Fikri already caused a stir by taking a second bride, who also happened to be 16 years old, named is Fani Oktara. Although 16 is the legal age for marriage in Indonesia, as stated, Fikri was already married with children. After the marriage, Fikri claimed that Oktara was not a virgin as she claimed and wanted to dissolve the marriage. Fikri divorced Oktara through a text message, which he later claimed he was allowed to do due to Sharia Law. The subsequent fallout and public outrage culminated after Oktara and her family filed a police complaint stating Fikri falsified his marital status, along with defamation of character and unpleasant conduct. Many citizens have protested in Garut, calling for his resignation. Many hope to use this case as an eye-opener to change of the common cases of human trafficking, the illegal sex-trade, and the exploitation of women which have been a widely known problem in the province of West Java. Also, how many times are the ideas of Sharia Law and text messages connected in the same sentence?

It is a far cry from the problems couples commonly face in Western Civilizations, and seems to make the divorces of celebrities and millionaires very self serving, self-centered, and disenchanting. Divorce is no laughing matter, no matter which country and set of laws one may live under. Knowing the divorce procedures can better arm you, whether you are husband or wife, to make your divorce a smooth as possible. To learn more about the U.S. state divorce laws, or how you can qualify for an uncontested online divorce, visit www.mydivorcedocuments.com today.

Sesame Street vs. the World of Divorce

By this time, Sesame Street is more than just a TV show to most children and even adults, it’s a movement. Sesame Street began their journey to entertain, educate, and value children in 1969, and they aren’t even close to stopping today. Sesame Street is the reason why most adults and children know their ABC’s, and now Sesame Street is the reason why children of divorce families can understand divorce. This past Tuesday, December 11th, 2012, Sesame Street launched their online segment called “Little Children, Big Challenges: Divorce,” in which Abby Cadabby makes Muppet history.

Divorce Spokesmuppet

Abby Cadabby is a pink, perpetually 3 year-old, fairy-in-training resident of Sesame Street who shared a major secret with viewers in the “Little Children, Big Challenges: Divorce” segment: Her parents are divorced. Abby and her friends are drawing pictures of their houses, and when Abby draws two pictures (one of her dad’s house and one of her mom’s house) the Muppets are intrigued. Abby explains that her family doesn’t live in one house all together because of a thing called divorce. With the help of one of the neighbors, Abby tells her Muppet friends her parents had “grown up problems…they couldn’t fix…” but they still love her very much.

First Kid on the Block

This is not the first time Sesame Street tried to go where no Muppet has gone before. In the early 1990’s, the brains behind Sesame Street were incensed about a report announcing the projected rise in divorce. The Sesame Street team became determined to address the issue of divorce in as calculated and calm a manner possible, before more children were exposed to divorce. So they researched and drafted a divorce segment. The Sesame Street team chose Snuffleupapagus, the long eye-lashed mammoth, to be the spokesmuppet for divorce. In the filmed segment, a distraught Snuffy told Big Bird about his father moving out of the family cave because of a thing called divorce.

However, the results of the divorce masterpiece screen test indicated it was too much too soon. Although the episode had an entire song and dance about divorce sometimes being for the best and Snuffy’s parents still loving him, the children only perceived horrible messages about divorce. The children in the focus groups were in tears and fearful of their own parents divorcing. They said all arguments meant a divorce was coming, and they worried where Snuffy would live. The children even worried that Snuffy’s parents didn’t love him anymore.

Needless to say, Sesame Street killed the episode, in spite of the research, psychology consultants, and story boarding. It was obvious they failed to correctly broach the topic of divorce, so they avoided the subject for the next 20 years.

Where One Muppet Dared to Go

This time, the Sesame Street team approached divorce from a retrospective viewpoint. Abby’s parents already divorced, and she was already adjusted to the changes divorce caused. By having a spokesmuppet who already went through the divorce process as a role model, as opposed to Snuffy’s more insecure stage, the children are assured that divorce does not mean an end to love and familial bonds.

Divorce Forecast: Post-Holiday Divorce Flood

The holidays are a wonderful time. Family and friends gather around to share good cheer and good food; there are presents to be unwrapped and enjoyed; and the cold weather makes everyone turn to cozy nights indoors. However, the cold weather also seems to provide drifting couples an incentive to stay together and retain the warmth of the season, and not a moment later. January to March marks the season of divorce, which has been a lesser known fact divorce attorneys and divorce coaches have kept to themselves.

Another fact divorce professionals have kept to themselves is how couples tend to stick together when their financial situation becomes a tight. But seeing as the recession appears to be coming to an end, we may be in for a flurry of divorce on top of the divorce season this year.

The Reason for the Season
Divorce season is not a myth or some sensationalized passing trend. For many years couples who see nothing but divorce in their future have taken one for the team and stuck out the marriage until the holiday season passed. Couples with children attempt to remain in each other’s good graces to avoid spoiling the holiday season for their children. Other couples remained unhappily married in an effort to not disrupt the status quo of the happy holidays. Then, there are those spouses who are on the fence about their marriage and are hoping some holiday magic will rub off on their marriage.

Regardless of the holidays, during times of financial hardship, couples tend to stick together to avoid empty wallets and an even worse financial state. This may seem counter intuitive, but the majority of marriages fizzle out instead of burst into flames. The less combustible marriages avoid the “D” word until they feel they can afford to begin life anew.

The holidays come and go, and sometimes the holidays take some marriages with them. The couples of these marriages view the New Year as a time for change, rebirth, and renewal. This is why in the weeks after the New Year, when children return from winter break, the divorce rate goes up 50% higher than any other month of the year.

How Do You Celebrate Divorce Season?
While the holidays amplify all that is wrong with your family and marriage, the season can come through and produce some shining gems of why you fought so hard for your family and marriage. There is never a good time for divorce, which is something all divorcees must accept and face. Even in the symbolic rush to shed your unhappy marriage by New Years, a month and 14 days later you must face the international holiday of love and romance.

If you’ve been thinking about divorce at all lately, now is the time to take a step back and make sure you don’t make a decision during the season of strained relationships. But, if divorce has been creeping up on your marriage for quite some time now, it would not be wise to dismiss the idea of divorce. Just celebrate the divorce season by making calm, rational decisions irrespective of the pressure of the holiday season.

5 Divorce Rings, No Turtledoves

Rings are an interesting symbol of fidelity and love, but there are many types of rings. There are of course the rings that signify nothing and are purely ornamental; there are promise rings; there are the traditional Irish claddagh rings; and way back in time, royalty wore official rings signifying their power. But today there is a new type of ring slowly collecting steam called divorce rings. After all, the jewelry people wear, or no longer wear, conveys a change in their relationship status, so why not have a specialty jewelry line that proudly announces this?

Ring of Truth

After a divorce, both spouses must eventually come to the moment when they permanently take off their wedding ring. At this point, the ring is no longer just a piece of jewelry or symbol of love. The ring  is a part of your daily routine, and is a part of your daily dress.

A wedding ring is also more than a present you could return. Presumably, you helped pick out the ring, and you picked the one you liked and felt you could wear day in and day out. That circle of metal is a part of you, and now you’re expected to never wear it again. Well, some people have looked at that path and said, “No.”

One Ring to Rule Them All

Divorce rings are becoming a wider known type of jewelry, but the genre of jewelry isn’t yet so large. Part of the reason why divorce jewelry hasn’t been sprung into a giant money-making scheme is because lots of divorcees interested in divorce jewelry prefer to alter their wedding ring into a divorce ring. The act of transforming this piece of identity to match the wearer’s new identity is healing in some ways.

In a New York Times article about divorce rings, a divorcee, Wanda Dibben, was interviewed who took her wedding ring into her jeweler and asked for the ring to be made into a divorce ring. A piece of the gold wedding band was removed, and the gap was “stitched” together with silver strands. Instead of giving away the wedding band, or just putting it in a memory box, the divorcee had it transformed into a divorce ring because she was “very attached” to the ring. Now, her ring is like “a buffer into [her] independence again and help[s] facilitate healing.”

Infinity and Beyond

Rings are supposed to signify the limitless, never-ending element of marriage and the love in the marriage, but sometimes all that is just cockeyed optimism. If you can change the symbol of limitless and unity of your marriage to instead symbolize your own unlimited future, maybe you can transition easier into a life that is fully your own. If you don’t want anything to do with your old wedding ring, you can buy yourself a divorce ring without any old memories or previous attachments.

Divorce is about readjusting the focus of your life. Just like your wedding ring was symbol and reminder of your life with another person, a divorce ring can be a symbol and reminder that you should live your life for you.