However, studies are just generalizations and different individuals cope with different traumas in different ways. For example, House star Olivia Wilde said getting divorced at a young age was not such a bad thing in a recent interview, as it freed up her life and allowed herself to be honest with who she was, reports People.
]]> The Olivia Wilde divorce happened just a few months ago following a nine-year marriage to Tao Ruspoli. Wilde is only 27-years-old and had eloped with Ruspoli when she was 18 as the two decided to get married while on a bus ride.Wilde says that her divorce was rough at first as she lost faith and felt like a failure. But she says she got back up and saw the divorce as freeing up her life, reports People.
Several studies have come out and shown the negative health effects of divorce. The fact is that different people cope with stress and divorce differently, and no study can predict how your situation will end up.
Getting a divorce is a serious decision and if your decision to end your marriage is based on valid reasons after considerable thought, the decision may be less detrimental to your health than staying trapped in an unhappy marriage.
Olivia Wilde divorced at a young age. She described the hardship of the divorce, but also the positives that came from the decision.
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Last month, we wrote about a study that reported that divorced people had a life expectancy of 11 years less than their married counterparts. This week, another study found that people who divorce in their 30s suffer far greater health effects than people who divorce later in life.
]]> In this study, a group of people aged 25 to 83 were asked to rate their health from poor to excellent and had their answers compared with their marital status, reports the Daily Mail. The study revealed that people who divorced between the ages of 35 and 41 experienced a more rapid health decline than those who were older when they divorced.The scientist who conducted the study explained that this effect may be due to the maturity that comes with age and older people being better equipped to handle divorce. Additionally, older people may have felt relief at divorce as they may have been stuck in a bad marriage for a longer time.
Deciding to divorce is one of the biggest decisions you can make in your life. There are many considerations that someone should contemplate, including their happiness, financial security, and well-being of their children. As couples get older, their feelings on these factors may be more solidified. In addition, any children in the marriage may be older. Therefore, deciding to divorce may be an easier decision.
On the other hand, a divorce can be much more traumatic for a younger person who may not be as certain that the marriage should end and suddenly finds himself or herself alone with a stack of responsibilities.
Several divorce health studies have correlated divorce with a decline in health. Deciding to divorce is a big decision and if you are not absolutely certain, you may feel the ill effects regardless of age.
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The Chicago man was sent to prison awaiting his trial date as he could not meet bail. This week, with the help of a South Side church, Curry was finally able to get his bail amount reduced and was able to post bail, freeing himself after about a month of incarceration, reports the Chicago Tribune.
]]> Curry is still awaiting trial and in the meantime he is not allowed to visit his daughter or contact the girl's mother pending an investigation into the alleged child abuse.Generally, when the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) receives a complaint of child abuse they will conduct an investigation if they believe the child is not safe at home. A picture of a child bound and gagged will usually be enough to set off an investigation.
During the investigation, the DCFS will likely talk to the alleged victim, family members, the suspected abuser, and other people who spend a lot of time with the child like siblings, doctors, and teachers to determine what the child's home life is like. After the DCFS completes its investigation, it will make a determination if the child is safe or whether the child should be separated from a parent.
Andre Curry says the Facebook gag was just a gag. The DCFS will look to see if this is true and whether his daughter has been injured in the past or if Curry is just one tasteless joker. As Curry awaits trial, he has his freedom, but still cannot see his child.
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No reason has been given for the couple’s divorce besides a prepared statement that stated the two were growing apart. There had been speculation that Seal’s anger issues may have precipitated the decision, though that suggestion was quickly shot down, reports the New York Daily News.
]]> Now as the couple moves forward with the divorce, both spouses appear to be taking it in stride, saying that the couple is parting on amicable terms and that a relationship will continue for the sake of their four children, reports the Daily News.Divorce can be a difficult process. Even in the best of circumstances, tempers may run high, and every decision can seem to be more stressful than the last, especially when children are involved. While Seal and Heidi Klum seem to be handling their divorce well, the following are some “do’s and don’ts” for the divorce process:
The Seal Heidi Klum divorce shows that even the happiest of marriages filled with children can end in divorce. If you are also going through a split, you should not let your emotions overcome you during the divorce legal process and you may want to work with a family law attorney.
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At the time, basketball commentators like Charles Barkley said Kobe Bryant was crazy not to have a prenuptial agreement. But young love prevailed. Now as the Vanessa Bryant divorce seems close to final, Barkley appears to be the wise man as Kobe stands to lose about $75 million in the divorce.
]]> In December, Kobe and Vanessa announced they were splitting, and Vanessa Bryant’s mother confirmed the pair did not have a prenuptial agreement, reports the Los Angeles Times. The couple was married for ten years, and they have dealt with their fair share of controversy — most obviously, Kobe’s alleged rape of a teen in a Colorado hotel room.The couple amazingly survived that incident, and managed to stay together for several more years before calling it splits. Without a prenuptial agreement, Vanessa Bryant now stands to receive half of Kobe’s $150 million net worth, as well as ongoing spousal and child support, under California community property law, reports the Times.
Couples in Illinois should know that this state is not a community property state, so property division upon divorce is usually not a neat 50/50 split. Instead, a judge will consider several factors like duration of marriage and economic needs to divide the property according to an equitable proportion.
No matter how property is split at divorce, the lesson from the Vanessa Bryant divorce is that couples entering marriage should consider a prenuptial agreement. By agreeing to how property should be divided, couples can avoid leaving it to a court to decide how much each should receive, or an arbitrary 50/50 split.
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Marianne and Newt Gingrich were married for 18 years when she discovered that her former husband was having an affair with another woman — current wife Callista Gingrich — and that Newt had no plans for calling off the six-year affair, reports Fox News. Instead, Marianna claims that Newt was hoping to have his cake and eat it too.
]]> In the midst of the Bill Clinton sex scandals, Marianne Gingrich says that she was sweet-talking with her husband on the phone at the end of every night. Unbeknownst to her, her husband's mistress was seated right beside him as he told his wife "I love you," reports Fox News. When Newt admitted the affair, he allegedly asked Marianne if she'd be willing to share him with his mistress. She said no.Every marriage is different, and different reasons can precipitate a divorce. In the case of Marianne Gingrich, the humiliation of being cheated upon for six years and then being asked to share her husband with another woman was too much, and she understandably ended the marriage.
If you are also considering divorce, you may not have an open-and-shut case like Marianne Gingrich. But you may have your compelling reasons such as emotional unavailability, general unhappiness, and financial concerns. The important thing when making this difficult decision is to stay organized and make your divorce decision in a rational manner.
The Newt Gingrich open marriage request may have led to his divorce. There are many reasons to end a marriage, and a request to share a spouse may be one of the most compelling.
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Police say the shooting at Country Club Hills stemmed from a domestic dispute over who owned the condominium in which all three adults lived, reports the Chicago Sun-Times. Apparently, Rhodes had been belligerent the whole day, as the couple had filed a police report of domestic dispute just prior to the shooting.
]]> The 50-year-old Rhodes has an extensive criminal record relating to drugs and he allegedly shot his sister and her husband multiple times, reports the Sun-Times. Rhodes is reportedly the brother of Cook County Judge James L. Rhodes, who is also the brother of the victim Pauline Betts-Bracy.While this domestic situation may seem strange, you should know that domestic violence can occur in any living arrangement. And the laws that protect spouses, similarly protect other people living in a home. So if a father fears for his life from a son, or a sister fears her brother, the potential victims of the abuse can seek protective orders to ensure their safety.
Nathaniel Bracy and Pauline Betts-Bracy apparently did the right thing and filed a domestic dispute report regarding Kenneth Rhodes. Unfortunately, it's not clear if this step further inflamed the troubled Rhodes, causing him to murder the couple.
For immediate threats of danger, victims of domestic violence can call 911 for assistance and removal of the abuser. Sadly, it's not sure if there was even enough time for that step in this case of domestic violence murder.
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In the third reported television falling on a child death in recent months, four-year-old Gianna Hadjis was killed after a TV fell on her head in a University Park home, reports the Chicago Sun-Times.
]]> So far, University police are describing the death from the box-style television a "horrible accident," but the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) may take a closer look anyway especially given the recent string of similar accidents.In late November, we wrote about the deaths of Karl Clermont and Shaniya Singleton, killed in separate instances when a TV fell on them at their homes.
In the most recent incident, the parents of the girl were apparently home at the time of the accident, reports the Sun-Times. While this may help show that the girl was supervised, the DCFS may want to look into the placement of the television and whether it was carelessly placed and was an obvious hazard to small children.
The DCFS generally has the power to remove children from a home or charge a family with child neglect if children are improperly supervised and live in dangerous conditions. For example, having young children living in the home of someone who owns multiple unlocked loaded guns may be reason to initiate removal proceedings.
While an old TV is obviously not as dangerous as an unlocked gun, the recent string of deaths do show that improperly placed TVs and curious children can be a fatal mix.
The television falling on child death of Gianna Hadjis is probably a very tragic and unfortunate accident. However, as these deaths become more frequent, parents should take steps to remove the hazard.
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According to a review of more than 30 published studies, divorced adults have a significantly higher risk of early death than married adults, reports USA Today.
]]> In fact, divorced people had a 23 percent greater chance of dying early than their married counterparts, and had a shorter life expectancy by 11 years, says the study. The researchers compared the health effects of getting divorced to smoking 15 cigarettes a day, getting limited exercise, being overweight, and drinking heavily.Still, it should be noted that this "study" was more of a review of previous studies and did not conclusively determine that divorce leads to early death, reports USA Today. In addition, it should be noted that divorced men seem to experience this effect more than divorced woman. This may be because women often keep their spouses healthy such as steering them away from cigarettes, booze, red meat, and other unhealthy habits.
So when couples experience tough times and consider divorcing, they may want to list "health" on their pro-marriage list. Other pro-marriage considerations can include staying together for the children, financial security, and companionship.
The con-list can include considerations like unhappiness and interference with life goals.
A University of Arizona review indicates that divorce death may be something you will want to consider if ending your marriage. The review is pretty shocking showing an 11-year shorter life expectancy for divorced people.
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So far the details are sparse, but the 42-year-old man appears to have been in an argument with his unidentified girlfriend when she fatally stabbed him in the stomach on Wednesday night, reports the Chicago Tribune.
]]> The girlfriend is in custody, but no charges have been filed yet, reports the Tribune.Domestic violence murder happens far too often and usually involves a man beating or killing his wife or girlfriend. However, this case should serve as a reminder that domestic violence can happen to anyone inside a home. For example, teen children can abuse parents, adult children can abuse elderly parents, wives can abuse husbands, etc.
To stop domestic violence, there are relatively simple steps that the victim can take. Most common, someone who fears for their safety can get a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the abusive person. A TRO is a court order that requires the abuser to cease the abuse, and a violation of the order can result in imprisonment.
If the cause of harm is too imminent for a TRO, victims of abuse can call 911 and talk to a police officer for immediate assistance. Oftentimes, police officers can also help you get a protective order against the abuser.
Brian Hawkins was killed by his girlfriend in the latest domestic violence murder. Not all cases of domestic violence can be prevented; however, there are steps that people in abusive relationships can take to stop the abuse.
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But proving that what seems right on paper will not necessarily work out in reality, the New Girl star officially filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences, and now it has been revealed just how much money may be at stake in the divorce, reports the Daily Mail.
]]> In court documents, the 31-year-old actress reportedly has $1,578,00 in the bank and an additional $1,645,000 stashed away in stocks and bonds, writes the Daily Mail. Along with her savings, the TV-star also reportedly makes an average of $95,000 a month.While this may seem like a lot, you should know that not all of these assets are subject to division. In states like Illinois, only marital property is split when a couple gets divorced. Marital property generally includes assets you acquired after marriage and not what someone accumulated before she weds.
For example, as Deschanel and Gibbard were only married for two years, what each person earned prior to the marriage would not be subject to division.
Furthermore, even if Deschanel made more during their marriage, families in Illinois should know that unlike California, Illinois is not a community property state. This means that a court will split the property according to "just proportions" had the divorce occurred in this state.
An Illinois court may consider the contribution of each party to the acquisition of the property, duration of marriage, and economic circumstances of each spouse among other factors. So, as Ben Gibbard probably also makes a lot of money (perhaps even more than Deschanel), it's doubtful the singer would receive any alimony from the two-year marriage had the divorce occurred in Illinois.
The Zoey Deschanel divorce is getting serious. The divorce is now official and a court is reportedly pouring over the actress's assets. While the New Girl would unlikely have to support her soon to be ex-husband in Illinois, you never know how a California court may rule.
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Illinois Civil Unions. Same-sex couples were finally allowed to enjoy the basic right to join together in a civil union. While short of a marriage, this state law is a giant step forward for gay and lesbian rights. Thousands of couples lined up for a civil union license the first day the law went into effect.
Joe Walsh Child Support. With marriage come divorce, alimony, and child support payments. Tea party Congressman Joe Walsh learned this the hard way as he's been engaged in a year-long child support battle with his ex-wife. Walsh apparently missed payments when his fortunes were down, but failed to make payments when his fortunes went up.
Spousal Violence. In a much darker turn, a popular story in 2011 was spousal abuse and violence. At the end of the year we wrote about Ian Alamilla, who was sentenced to 25 years in jail for murdering his wife as the couple was going through a divorce. Domestic violence turned deadly in several incidents this year.
Domestic Violence. To show that violence among family members is not limited to spouses, there was a disturbing trend of children killing parents this past year. One child tried to butcher his mom after she gave him a sandwich. Another killed his dad with a weed wacker for unknown reasons.
Chicago family law is not just about celebrity divorce. Instead, it often involves serious subjects with deadly consequences.
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After being married for only 14 months, Brand, a British comedian, is entitled to half the couple's marital property under California law, reports the Contra Costa Times. The two were married in California and Perry did not sign a prenuptial agreement before marrying.
]]> As marital property generally means the property and assets that a couple earns after marriage, Perry's string of number one hits released during her short marriage to Brand is potentially subject to division. However, her earnings prior to marriage would still be hers alone.So while Perry is probably going to see half her marital property melt away under California's community property laws, super couples in Illinois should take heed that this state is not a community property state.
Instead, in Illinois, a court will usually undergo a case-by-case analysis to divide the marital property according to "just proportions" based upon several factors like:
As Russell Brand is himself a hot Hollywood name with plenty of earning potential it is likely that he would take home a lot less than $20 million from the Katy Perry divorce had the couple been married in Illinois. But as the couple lived a California dream, they (or Perry) will likely have to pay for that dream as well.
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Unfortunately, seven years and three children later, the couple's relationship did not have a Hollywood ending. Instead, Tara sought to divorce her husband. And in an act of rage on April 2010, a DuPage County court found that Ian strangled his wife to death following a late-night argument, reports The Associated Press.
]]> This week, Ian Alamilla has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for his wife's death. The husband could have faced a much stiffer penalty, but the judge went easy on Alamilla, saying that the killing was "a crime motivated by rage" and not premeditated, reports the AP.While the criminal aspects of this case involve murder and premeditation, there are family law aspects as well. After all, this is a case of domestic violence that ended as horribly as possible.
The AP did not report on what prompted the fatal argument, or if Ian and Tara Alamilla had a history of violence. However, for divorcing couples, you should know that you do not have to put yourself in a position where you fear for your own safety.
For example, if Tara Alamilla suspected that she was in danger of being harmed, she could have sought a temporary restraining order (TRO). This is a court order that requires the abuser to cease the abuse, and can include requirements that the abuser stay away from the victim. TROs are relatively easy to obtain, and judges are easily available to grant these orders.
In addition, if the fear of violence is too immediate, you can always call the police. Police officers may have the ability to issue a protective order having the same legal effect as a TRO, though for a shorter duration of time.
Ian Alamilla killed his wife in a horrible act of domestic violence. He will now spend the next 25 years behind bars, though one may still wonder whether the act was preventable.
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As you know, Arnold Schwarzenegger was caught cheating on his Kennedy wife with the family housekeeper, Mildred Baena, reports Reuters. To make matters worse, the Governator is believed to have fathered a child who is roughly around the same age as Schwarzenegger and Shriver's own children with Baena.
]]> However, Schwarzenegger is said to be pulling out the charm, wooing Shriver with gifts and sweet talk to save the marriage, reports Reuters. Additionally, Shriver’s own Catholic background is apparently influencing her decision not to get divorced.While the facts and circumstances of this mega-couple’s divorce may be different from the everyday divorce of most people from Chicago, their considerations may ring a familiar tune.
Getting a divorce is obviously a very big decision. Along with contrition and religion, some other factors you may consider include the impact the divorce will have on children, financial security, day-to-day needs, and, most importantly, what you do and don’t like about your spouse.
In addition, you will want to consider if staying married will make you happy and further your life goals. In a previous post, we recommended writing down lists of the pros and cons of marriage, to help you clarify your feelings. While this may seem elementary, putting your feelings onto pen and paper can be helpful.
The Maria Shriver divorce may not happen. Getting a divorce is a big decision that often involves more than just a single factor (e.g., being cheated on). Along with her Catholic background and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s sweet talk, Shriver may have a list of her own.
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