No one enters into a marriage expecting their relationship to end someday. When a marriage breaks down, spouses are often lost and confused as to how they got to this point, with many of them proclaiming, “Neither of us believes in divorce!” However, divorce is not an event that “just happens.” Typically, it is the result of a series of missteps which bring a partnership to a point of irreconcilable differences. Sometimes, both spouses see this coming as the inevitable next step. In other situations, the decision is seen as coming from “out of the blue,” leaving the non-initiating spouse reeling and questioning what they missed. Here are a few factors which can commonly lead to the breakdown of a marriage, and to a potential divorce:

Little or No Conflict Resolution

In the United States, a divorce is granted about once every 36 seconds, adding up to approximately 2,400 marriages ended every day. Although the divorce rate is 40% lower for families with children, nearly 50% of children born to married couples will witness the dissolution of their biological parents' marriage by the time they reach age 18. Many studies document the negative effects of divorce on children, but having two parents who stay involved with their children can minimize many of these effects. However, if one parent is willingly absent, a stepparent adoption can provide many benefits to both parents and children.

What It Means for a Stepparent to Adopt

Children naturally want their parents to remain married forever. This desire typically stems more from the child’s fear of the unknown than from any other source. When parents decide to divorce, this may not even be a surprise to children, since by the time they reach this decision, parents may have undergone a trial separation, or children may have observed a significant amount of conflict in the home. However, even in those situations, hearing the news of a pending divorce is a conversation that children will remember the rest of their lives. As parents, we can work to protect our children’s best interests by following these tips for guiding the discussion in a healthy and constructive direction:

Break the News Together

It is not uncommon that following a divorce, newly single spouses seek companionship again. After experiencing the intimacy and partnership of marriage, individuals are equipped with a deeper understanding of themselves and their interests, morals, and overall life goals. Having experienced the benefits of a close relationship, marriage becomes an option once more for many divorcees. 

It may be interesting to discover that many previously married couples find that love again with each other, even after they have gone through contentious courtroom divorce battles. However, it is best to proceed with caution when considering remarriage to a former spouse, as post-decree concerns may put a damper on a future wedding.

Divorce can be a complex and arduous process since there are numerous potential pitfalls and challenges – and money is often the greatest concern. However, many parties overlook important financial planning details when they first file for divorce. The result of this oversight can range in severity from a minor loss of some funds to complete financial devastation. Learn how to mitigate against the potential money issues in your Illinois divorce with effective financial planning, and discover how an experienced divorce lawyer is able to help.

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