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Recent Blog Posts
New Study Suggests Rebound Relationships may be Beneficial
When going through a breakup, different people will offer different advice. Some will say that it is unfair to date a new person while still having feelings for an ex. Other people will say that the best way to move on from a split is to start dating someone new. Now there is research to say that the second option is the healthier decision.
In a joint study between Queens College in New York City and the University of Illinois, researchers interviewed over 300 young adults. Some were in committed relationships and others were single. The researchers intended to study the effects of a rebound relationship on the well-being of the recently dumped. They published their findings in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships.
Getting Back On Your Feet after Divorce
No matter the circumstances, divorce is a scary and emotional process to go through. After constantly being one-half of a couple for so long, it can be difficult to start fresh and be single again. However, there are several steps you can take to make the transition easier.
First, do not waste time with regret. You have no way to go back and change what happened with you and your ex, but you do have the option to get back out there and start living the life you want. And you can begin by getting all of the required paperwork in order, so that your divorce can be finalized quickly and it can become a reality for which you can adjust.
What Are the Different Types of Protective Orders in Texas?
For victims of domestic abuse and violence, it may appear that there is no hope for escape. However, that is not the case. The most effective way to escape domestic abuse is through a protective order. According to the Texas Council on Family Violence, a protective order is a "civil court order issued to prevent continuing acts of family violence."
There are three types of protective orders in Texas: temporary ex parte, final, and magistrate's order of emergency protection. A temporary ex parte protective order will provide a victim of domestic abuse with immediate protection. These may be obtained without the presence of the abuser in court, so long as the judge believes the abuser presents a clear danger of violence to the victim. However, an abuser cannot be arrested for violating this type of order. Temporary ex parte orders generally last for 20 days and can sometimes be renewed for an additional 20-day period. Next, we have the magistrate's order of emergency protection, sometimes referred to as simply an emergency protective order. These are issued by the criminal court after an abuser has been arrested for committing family violence, sexual assault, or stalking. This type of order is generally good for 31-61 days, but will last from 61-91 days if the abuser was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon. The third and final type of protective order is called a final protective order. These orders are effective for the time period specified in the order itself-which is typically up to two years. There are a few different circumstances, however, that will allow a final order to be effective for more than two years. The abuser may petition the court to ask for the discontinuation of the order after it has been in effect for one year. Victims of domestic violence may feel that they have no place to turn, but there is hope for safety. If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse, do not go through it alone. Contact a dedicated Texas family law attorney to assist you in obtaining a protective order.
Financial Stress Leads to an Increase in Domestic Violence
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How Choosing an Open Adoption Can Affect Your Child
Deciding to adopt a child is a deeply personal decision. Couples may choose to pursue a closed adoption, where the child and family has no contact with the birth mother, or an open adoption where the child and family has access to a degree of personal information, and may choose to maintain contact with each other once the adoption is complete. According to The Minnesota/Texas Adoption Research Project, having an open adoption may affect the child's self-esteem and adjustment.
According to the study, in children between the ages of 4-12 the level of openness in the adoption didn't affect self-esteem or adjustment. It did however seem to have an impact during middle childhood for adopted children. The empathy and mutual respect generated by an open adoption between the adoptive and birth parents had a significantly positive impact during this time.
In adolescents, the level of openness wasn't significantly important to the child's adjustment levels. Instead, qualities such as relationship collaboration and compatibility were more likely to impact an adopted child's self-esteem. Another somewhat surprising result from the study was that the level of openness in the adoption did not seem to result in any differences in a child's degree of preoccupation with being adopted, or their adoptive identity.
Signs Your Marriage Might Not Last
While every newlywed couple would like to believe that their marriage will beat the odds and last forever, nearly 50 percent of all married couples end up filing for divorce. After years of studying both successful and failed marriages, the American Psychological Association has identified several factors that may indicate a marriage is more likely to end in divorce.
According to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), demographics may play an important role in predicting whether a marriage will last until its 20th wedding anniversary. Statistics show that African-American women have the lowest chance of a lasting marriage, at 37 percent, while Caucasian men and women, as well as African-American men's chances stand at just over 50 percent. Male Hispanic immigrants and Asian women stand the highest chance of achieving a lasting marriage, at 70 percent.
What a Prenuptial Agreement Can and Cannot Do
Prior to getting married, it is important to discuss things such as potential children, jobs, and where you both will live. One subject that might be harder to talk about is about money. That is especially the case if one spouse comes into the relationship with a better financial position such as higher wages, property or a possible inheritance. That spouse may want to protect their assets in the future by drafting a prenuptial agreement.
There are certain things that a properly written prenup can achieve. It is generally used to specify how assets shall be divided on the chance that the marriage ends in divorce. It can also dictate how certain separate or marital assets can be characterized, managed and controlled. This is essential if either spouse owns a family business or home prior to becoming married. Also if either spouse has a large amount of debt, it can protect the other from being financially responsible. A prenup may also dictate if a spouse is eligible to receive alimony or direct how much support can be awarded.
January is the Start of Divorce Season
The holidays can be stressful for everyone. The season is spent buying expensive presents, travelling in cold weather and spending time with family members. These stresses can further divide married couples who may have relationship problems throughout the whole year. But couples often stick together through the holidays even if their relationship has run its course. That phenomenon has lead attorneys to call January "divorce month".
Research has also shown that January is the month to consider filing for divorce. An analysis by FindLaw.com has shown that between 2008 and 2011 there was an increase in divorce filings in the month of January. This increase sees an apex in the month of March and then tends back down through the rest of the year until September when it increases again.
The website also looked at search activity for their website and found a similar increase in the month of January. Phrases like "divorce", "family law" and "child custody" increased 50 percent from the month of December to the month of January. This increase peaked in the month of March. If people are not filing for divorce, they are at least considering the possibility.
Psychological Tasks to Keep Your Marriage Healthy
Keeping your marriage healthy in order to avoid filing for divorce may depend on both parties in the couple completing some simple psychological exercises. As we head into the New Year, many couples will be making resolutions to work on themselves and their marriages; keeping these few simple thoughts in mind may help save your marriage.
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), nearly 50 percent of all marriages end in divorce. Couples who spend some time focusing on the following five psychological tasks set forth by the APA, however, stand a better chance of beating the odds. In order to help make a marriage work, couples should:
- Establish a new identity as a couple that is separate, though not estranged from, the families they grew up in;
- Establish boundaries that protect their individuality while still working on building a sense of intimacy and togetherness;
New Study Links Divorce to Spouse's Alcohol Consumption Habits
A recent study, conducted by the Buffalo Research Institute on Addictions (RIA), has linked the differences in a spouse's alcohol consumption habits to divorce. Kenneth Leonard, Ph.D., RIA director and lead author of the study stated,"Our results indicate that it is the difference between the couple's drinking habits, rather than the drinking itself, that leads to marital dissatisfaction, separation and divorce."
Researchers followed 634 couples over the first nine years of their marriage and found that close to 50 percent of couples "where only one partner drank more heavily" would end up divorcing, while the divorce rates for other couples was only 30 percent. The study also found that the divorce rate remained the same for couples where both partners consumed large amounts of alcohol, showing that they were just as likely to stay together as couples who were not heavy drinkers or drinkers at all. "This research provides solid evidence to bolster the commonplace notion that heavy drinking by one partner can lead to divorce. Although some people might think that's a likely outcome, there was surprisingly little data to back up that claim until now," stated Leonard.
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