As divorce continues to be a likely outcome for many marriages, families across the state and nation alike face the possibility of a nontraditional homelife situation. In recent years, some people have argued that the nuclear family may be the source of many societal ills, from economic inequality to racial injustice. Because of this, people have started to wonder whether the traditional nuclear family of a mom, a dad, and one or more children is truly quintessential to a child’s positive upbringing. The truth is, there are alternatives to the nuclear family, some of which might be even more beneficial to your family following a divorce.

3 Beneficial Alternatives to the Nuclear Family

As nuclear families become less and less common, it might be worth considering alternatives to that particular family model. Examples of strong options that may be available after a couple has divorced include:

1. Extended Families—A family does not have to only be a mother, a father, and their children; it can also include grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, other extended blood relatives, etc. This type of arrangement can be beneficial for divorced parents, allowing them and their children to remain close to other family members. It may also help resolve income inequality issues by ensuring that parents have access to high-quality childcare from familiar faces like grandparents or aunts and uncles. This could give many children benefits that they might not otherwise have.

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If you and your spouse are having relationship problems, but you are not ready to deal with the challenges and finality that come with a divorce, you might want to consider getting a legal separation. A legal separation can enable you to do many of the same things you can do through divorce, such as determining parental responsibilities, parenting time, temporary spousal support, and child support. However, you will remain legally married to your spouse, and this can provide a number of advantages.

6 Reasons to Get Separated Instead of Divorced

While divorce might seem like the most obvious option for a failing marriage, you may not wish to legally dissolve your marriage. You might choose to pursue a legal separation for one or more of the following reasons:

1. Financial Concerns—There are many financial benefits to getting a legal separation from your spouse, including:

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According to Illinois law, dissipation of marital assets is defined as the use of marital property or assets to solely benefit one spouse for a purpose unrelated to the marriage when the marriage is in the midst of an irreconcilable breakdown. As a marriage undergoes difficult times—and as divorce becomes more and more likely—one or both of the spouses might begin deviating from their usual spending patterns. They might spend marital funds irresponsibly, neglect to pay bills, or enter into major financial agreements, among other things, all without the other spouse’s consent. This could affect the fair and equitable division of marital property during the couple’s divorce.

Common Examples of Marital Asset Dissipation

In order to safeguard yourself against possible marital asset dissipation, it is important to know all the different ways your spouse might be dissipating assets so that you can more readily spot them when you suspect impropriety. There are many ways a spouse could improperly dissipate marital assets, including:

• Gambling

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Much of the data today suggests that around 40% of all marriages end in divorce, as opposed to the popular belief over the last several decades that divorce is the end result of at least half of all marriages. Even though it may seem like a recent trend, the concept of divorce has actually been around in history for much longer than the last century, and it has always been at the forefront of many spouses’ minds. Here are some interesting facts about divorce and its evolution throughout history:

A Brief History of Divorce

Believe it or not, the idea of divorce may have been around for as long as the institution of marriage itself. For instance, King Henry VIII asked the Pope to let him divorce Catherine of Aragon. After the Pope refused, Henry VIII divorced her anyway, remarrying Anne Boleyn instead, and this would prove to be the catalyst for the Church of England separating from the Roman Catholic Church. Overall, people’s perceptions of divorce and the laws surrounding the dissolution of marriage have changed and evolved over the years in a variety of ways, including:

• Divorce saw one of its earliest spikes in North America during the American Revolution. The same ideology of personal liberty that contributed to the country’s founding did not just color people’s visions of government; it also affected how they viewed marital vows.

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Governor Pritzker has extended the Illinois Stay-at-Home Order through the end of May, and it could potentially last even longer. While some states are phasing into opening more parts of their economies, Illinois remains focused on the safety of its residents, only allowing essential workers to work outside of their homes. As the unemployment claims keep rolling in, it might be easy to feel like the country, or at least the state, is in the midst of an economic recession or depression. How might this new economic reality in Illinois affect divorce rates?

The Many Potential Effects of a Recession on Divorce Rates

Will an economic recession decrease or increase divorce rates? While a strong case could be made for either outcome, the truth is that this is a nuanced issue. In studying divorce rates before, during, and after the last major recession over the last 10 to 15 years, researchers have found that there is no clear, substantial, and overwhelming data that supports either outcome. In many cases, the likelihood of divorce is dependent upon each family’s living situation. For example, divorce rates might increase as a result of a recession because:

• Foreclosures, bankruptcies, and other financial stressors have taken a tremendous toll on the marriage.

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