Little Rock Divorce Law Blog

According to a recent study in the Journal of Family Issues, military members have a lower rate of divorce than their civilian counterparts. Although service members in Arkansas and around the world are often subject to high-stress situations, including long-term deployments separating troops from loved ones, marriages involving military personnel are still proving resilient.

Recent data suggests that support programs offered to military spouses and their families could be one of the factors that helps prevent military divorce. The data also suggests that service members tend to have a more traditionalist view that could be a motivating factor that helps them stay married during tough times.

Divorce proceedings in Arkansas can be subject to a wide range of challenges. This is just as true for celebrity divorce as it is for the rest of us. In fact, divorcing parents in the Jacksonville area may face some of the same child custody difficulties confronting model Heidi Klum and singer Seal. Specifically, Seal is seeking to assert his rights as a father after taking issue with Klum's child custody requests.

After seven years of marriage, the well-known pair split in January, simply acknowledging that they had grown apart. They made it clear that they expected to continue to love one another. While that may be the case, Seal's response to Klum's filing for divorce and unexpected child custody requests indicate a disagreement that may hinder that affection.

Arkansas couples navigating divorce proceedings may be interested in a recent story addressing the rise of so-called pet custody cases. Most people these days probably would not think of pets as property, but in court that is typically how they are addressed. With the recent trend of rising pet custody cases in divorce, more people have to get creative and openly communicate with their former spouses or partners to ensure that they receive visitation or even joint-ownership of their beloved animals.

A 2006 survey conducted by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers found that a quarter of the people surveyed reported a considerable increase in pet custody cases since 2001. Although the survey is a few years old, the president of the AAML states that there is no doubt that the amount of these types of cases has grown steadily since the date of that survey. More and more people are finding it difficult to let go of their pets after a separation and are using the courts to fight for them.

The U.S Census Bureau reports a higher rate of couples divorcing when they are older. According to the data, in the last twenty years, the divorce rate of couples between the ages of 48 and 66 is more than 50 percent higher. Many Arkansas couples in this age group have likely already started planning for retirement, and some may have already retired. Going through a divorce at an older age carries the possibility of affecting one's retirement prospects detrimentally.

For many people planning retirement options, the likelihood of discussing divorce as one of the risk factors is low. Retirees may worry about inflation or rising health care costs before thinking about the possibility of a marital separation. However, given the recent statistics, divorce has become an increasingly important aspect for many people who are nearing the golden years.