The Census is a once a decade process by the government that attempts to catalog the United States’ population and some basic information about everyone collectively. Among the information that the government currently collects is the marital history of the population e.g. whether a person recently married or divorced. Now the Census Bureau has released a statement asking for public comment on the idea of removing the marital history question from the Census. Though this may seem like a fairly insignificant issue, it actually may have far reaching effects on government policy, as well as on the way social scientists have to study marriage and divorce.

The American Community Survey

As it stands, the Census itself already does not actually ask about marital history because of a recent change in the Census format. In the past, the government sent out two forms of the Census, the short form and the long form. Every citizen received the short form, which asked only basic questions, and one out of six households had to answer the long form, a more in-depth questionnaire. This changed for the most recent Census. Now, everyone only receives the short form Census, and some households are also sent the American Community Survey.

Divorces are the most common way of legally ending a marriage in Illinois, but they can seem too final for some people. Sometimes, people in that situation may benefit from another option provided by Illinois law, legal separation. Unlike divorces, legal separations do not end a marriage. However, they do allow both parties to live separately with formal support agreements in place. These sorts of arrangements are seldom used in Illinois because they still require much of the same process as a divorce, but they can be a useful tool in certain circumstances.

Legal Separation vs. Divorce

Legal separations are very similar to divorce. If the two spouses are living apart, then one of them can file for a legal separation provided that they are not at fault for the separation. Examples of fault can include things like adultery or abandoning the other spouse. Then the couple determines things like child custody, visitation rights, child support, alimony, and property division, just like they would in a full divorce. Also like divorce, legal separations are permanent arrangements, unless the couple chooses to get back together. Although, at some point it will likely make sense for a couple who has been legally separated for a long time to convert that separation into a divorce.

Many people are reluctant to seek a divorce because they fear the expense of a divorce attorney, or if they do seek divorce, they choose to do so alone rather than with experienced guidance. The law is a complicated system, and even seemingly simple divorces can involve legal pitfalls. Having a skilled divorce attorney on his or her side can help a person have access to experienced investigators, can provide support and reduce stress during the process, and can even help the odds if the other spouse has already hired a divorce attorney to represent him or her.

Experienced Investigation

One of the most difficult parts of the divorce process is bringing together all the information necessary to complete the process. Dividing up the property requires a full, coherent accounting of all the couple's finances, along with an investigation to make sure that the other spouse is not attempting to improperly conceal assets. Child custody disputes are all about developing a custody arrangement that is in the best interest of the child, and the more information there is available to do that, the better off the child will be. Oftentimes, people are tempted to do their own investigation into their spouses, such as snooping through their emails. However, people performing their own investigations run the risk of running afoul of privacy laws. Divorce attorneys are experienced at using legal methods of investigation and the discovery process to ensure that all the necessary information comes out during the divorce process.

Many people dread divorce as a complicated or expensive process that involves lawyers and months of conflict. While many divorces require more complicated unwinding to ensure that both parties receive a fair outcome, Illinois law also allows for a simpler method of divorce. This method of divorce, known as a Joint Simplified Dissolution of Marriage, is a quicker way to get a divorce, provided that a couple meets certain qualifying standards. Importantly, proceeding through this simplified process for a divorce, rather than through the ordinary channels, waives many legal rights, so it is important for people considering this divorce process to consult with family law attorneys to learn about all of their options and the rights that they are sacrificing in exchange for this speedy resolution.

Qualifying for Joint Simplified Divorce

Qualifying for a Joint Simplified Dissolution of Marriage, also referred to as a Joint Simplified Divorce, requires a couple to meet numerous standards. In order to qualify for such a resolution, a couple must:

Every young couple wants to find a way to divorce-proof their marriage, but a new study has revealed that the decisions they make just as they are getting married can have a major impact on their likelihood of divorce. New research from the Emory University Department of Economics looked at how much a couple spent on wedding rings and on their weddings over all to see if those expenditures had any effect on the couple's divorce risk. It turns out that despite the fact that many people dream about expensive, fairy tale weddings, such spectacles actually increase the marital failure rate.

The Study's Findings

The researchers used surveys to collect data on thousands of U.S. residents who either were married or had been married, and then examined the data to see if there were any trends between wedding expenses and divorce rates. They found several. For instance, people who bought expensive engagement rings, classified by the study as costing between $2,000 and $4,000, were 30 percent more likely to divorce as compared to people who spent more modestly on their rings, opting for one costing between $500 and $2,000. Interestingly, the trend does not continue for people who spent less than $500 on an engagement ring.