 Conflicts with in-laws  Job and career pressures  Adultery  Conflicts over children  Communication  Alcohol/Substance abuse  Money problems  Loss of shared goals

 American Association for Marriage and Family Therapist-professionally qualified in family/marriage problem resolution  Clergy  Friends

 Separation-live apart, couple remain legally married  Divorce-a court order that legally ends a valid marriage. If finalized, may remarry.

 Most states require a separation period prior to having a final divorce  Still have legal and financial responsibilities to each other/children  Separation Agreement-written document that sets out the couple’s agreed upon terms for custody, visitation, property etc.

 Once signed is a legally enforceable contract  Does not have to be approved by a court action

 More than 1 million each year  Second half of 20 th century rate doubled  ½ of all marriages end in divorce  Divorce-process by which a couple legally ends their marriage and divide up their property

 Expensive financially and emotionally  Judges often mandate mediation-neutral third party  Not always necessary to have an attorney  Pro se(do it yourself)  If children or substantial property is involved you need to have an attorney

 Uses informal discussions and conferences by attorneys and couples.  Lawyers withdraw from case if one party decides to contest it in court.  At fault divorce-one party must prove that other party has committed a wrong

 Grounds for fault: 1. adultery 2. desertion 3. mental cruelty 4. physical cruelty 5. insanity In past, this was used to justify denial support Most states now allow No Fault Divorce

 A spouse has only to show that there are irreconcilable differences  Most common form of divorce  Some states have lengthened the time it takes for no fault divorce to discourage hasty divorces

 Can be temporary or permanent  Joint custody means both parents have full responsibility for the child’s supervision and equal say in upbringing, education & religion  Joint custody unlikely if couple cannot agree on terms of divorce

 If parents cannot agree or the court does not approve of their agreed plan The court can make the decision.  Tender Years Doctrine refers to the tradition of awarding the mother custody  Standard of courts today-Best Interest of the Child Doctrine  Over age 12 the child’s wishes are taken into account

 During bitter custody disputes or disagreement over a court’s decision on custody-Parents illegally take their child and hide them.  Act provides for all states to enforce custody decisions of other states

 Women more economically disadvantaged by divorce  Men more economically well off after divorce

 Also called Spousal Support-money paid to help support an ex after divorce  State laws restricting alimony to only ex- wives struck down by Supreme Court  Up to discretion of the courts  Considerations include couples standard of living, financial status of each spouse

 Awarded temporarily to help one spouse get into the labor market

 The level of support is determined by the non- custodial parent’s ability to pay and the amount necessary for child’s needs  Until emancipation or longer only if agreed upon  FSA-Family Support Act of 1988 helps in enforcing child support and requires states to have a clear formula for determining support  Allows tracking by Social Security and attachment of wages

 In many states, stepparents are required to help support their step children as long as they are living with them  In some states, if stepparent has acted in loco parentis(in place of the parent) then they may be required to continue after leaving.  Cannot claim custody, may ask for visitation  Can adopt if non-custodial parent agrees.