RSSApril, 2013 - Chicago Illinois Family Law Blog Archive
Is Marriage Any Easier after 20 Years? Actress Jane Seymour and Husband James Keach Confirm Separation, Negotiate Terms of Divorce
Actress Jane Seymour’s representative has told USA TODAY in a prepared statement that she and her husband of 20 years have been separated for several months and are negotiating the terms of their divorce.
According to the statement, the couple will continue to be devoted, loving parents to their children and will continue as business associates. Both intend to remain dedicated to the charitable causes they have supported.
Married in 1993, Seymour and Keach are the parents of twin sons, Kristopher and John, age 17.
What Are the Secrets for Successful Marriage Therapy?
The last resort for many married couples who are thinking of divorce may be couples therapy. According to Susan Heitler, a Harvard graduate with a doctorate in clinical psychology from NYU, in order to decide if couples counseling will help in your situation, you need to know the secrets for helping the therapy succeed.
Secrets marriage therapists know include the following:
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- Effective therapy can only occur if the couples’ therapist has a firm hold on the reins. If one partner begins to speak in a way that is controlling or critical, an accomplished therapist must intervene to put the dialogue back on track.
- Therapy teaches couples to learn to speak to one another with tact, to listen, and to resolve differences.
Chairman of House Republican Campaign Organization Backs Same-Sex Marriage
As reported in The Chicago Tribune, the first Illinois House Republican among leadership and the second overall, State Representative Ed Sullivan Jr., said Sunday that he is in support of the bill allowing same-sex marriages in the state.
Sullivan told reporters that he believes there is significant momentum leading up to the vote on same-sex marriage. He said he heard several of his Republican colleagues discuss same-sex marriage, calling passage of the bill the right step to take. The issue, according to Sullivan, is one of fairness—marriage equality. He said that he thinks the bill corresponds to his party’s belief in treating all people fairly. He believes even more of his Republican House colleagues will become supporters of the bill. There are 47 Republicans serving in the Illinois House.
April is Stress Awareness Month: Tips to Help During Your Divorce
Divorce is an extremely stressful and emotionally trying process. When children are involved, the battle between spouses can become even more contentious. Financial considerations, negotiations, and litigation only add to the stress of going through a divorce.
We are all unique, and each of us handles stress differently. Courtesy of my.chicagotribune.com, stress can manifest itself in the following ways:
Protecting Your Credit during a Divorce
If divorce is in your future, you are probably facing an emotional, trying time in your life. The last thing on your mind may be your credit rating, but consideration of financial matters is never more important than prior to and during a divorce.
Courtesy of divorce360.com, there are steps you can take during a divorce that can help you with your finances. You need to first determine and protect your credit rating. Make sure your spouse has not concealed debts or assets. He or she could have run up a debt by obtaining a loan or a credit card under both names without your knowledge, which may negatively affect your credit rating. Find out what your rating would be as a single.
U.S. Supreme Court Signals Reluctance to Rule on Marriage Equality
Nine states currently recognize same-sex marriages, and nationwide polls demonstrate increasing support for marriage equality in the U.S. Even so, signals from the Supreme Court indicate justices are reluctant to broadly rule on the right to marry for gays and lesbians.
As reported by The Chicago Tribune, some of the nine Supreme Court justices have displayed a reluctance to deal with this still divisive issue. Although nine states recognize same-sex marriage, 30 states still have constitutional amendments prohibiting gay marriage. Potential swing voter Justice Anthony Kennedy clearly indicated where he stood on the issue by warning the Court that they were getting into “uncharted waters.”
Divorce at Graduation?
According to the University of Virginia’s Director of the Center for Children, Families, and the Law, Robert Emery, Ph.D., parents of young people who are nearing graduation should wait until a better time to tell them that they plan to divorce. Announcing your plans to divorce in the months prior to your children’s high school graduation may not be healthy for them.
High school graduation is a time to celebrate your children’s accomplishments. For young people, it is a thrilling rite of passage. Your children have matured in a healthy environment, but making the choice to tell them of your plans to divorce is not the healthiest decision. Dr. Emery advises couples to wait for graduation season to end before they announce their plans to separate or divorce. Remember how excited you were when your senior prom season arrived followed shortly by graduation? Don’t ruin that experience for your children by burdening them with your problems at this time.
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