The divorce rate in the United States continues its steady decline, thanks in large part to the Millennial generation, which is getting married later and divorcing in much smaller numbers than its predecessors (especially the Baby Boomers). According the 2017 American Community Survey, the states that have the lowest divorce rates are Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, New York and Vermont.…
One of the most common pieces of advice people receive after they’ve gone through a divorce is to use their newly found freedom and free time to get involved in new hobbies. This might seem a bit trite or overly simplistic, but it’s true — both your mental and physical health can benefit from trying new things after you’ve emerged…
Your divorce is finalized, and you are officially a single person. Now what? There are plenty of opportunities for you to try new things and explore life as a single person. But just because the legal processes of negotiating and settling your divorce are over does not mean you’re completely in the clear with regard to your divorce-related responsibilities and…
Once you have finalized your divorce, it’s time for you to focus on moving forward into your new life. The adjustment can be very difficult for some people — going from living as husband and wife to living as a single person makes for a significant lifestyle change. What steps can you take to move forward and reinvent yourself in…
Marital debt is a significant factor in any divorce. Debts, like assets, are subject to division as part of the divorce process. But to what extent will you be responsible for your partner’s debts? Marital versus separate debt Before your debts can be divided, they must be categorized as marital or separate, similar to your assets. Marital debt is debt…
If you are going through a divorce because of adultery, you might be wondering what effect your spouse’s infidelity can have on your divorce. New York is one of a few states that still uses fault-based grounds that can affect a case in various ways, with one of those grounds being adultery. The following are a few tips to keep…
One question people commonly have while going through a divorce is whether or not it’s okay for them to begin dating. The simplest answer is that you should wait until your divorce is final, but realistically, this doesn’t always happen. If you do meet someone during your divorce process, it’s important for you to exercise extreme caution with how you…
Your divorce may take months to resolve, but there may be some issues you need to settle right away, at least temporarily. Child custody is one of those issues. Who will have custody of the kids during the divorce proceedings? You have two options during your divorce if one spouse has moved out of the house. Either you come to…
Even after your divorce is complete, it is still important to be mindful of what you say and how you act, especially when it comes to your children and former spouse. Below are some post-divorce etiquette tips to keep in mind: Watch what you say in front of your children: You should never badmouth your former partner in front of…
Once your divorce is final, you will need to make some lifestyle changes to adjust for the fact that your financial situation may be much tighter for the foreseeable future. Below are a few examples of some of the specific financial challenges for which you should plan: Living situation: If you and your spouse owned a home together, your divorce…