Divorces dipping along with economy

[Julie]

While squabbles over money have split up many a marriage, the lingering global recession is helping keep couples together -- for better and for worse.

More than half of the 1,600 lawyers who responded to a recent American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers survey reported a significant drop in divorce filings since the last quarter of 2008.

“The current economic climate is proving to be far more unforgiving than estranged couples seeking a divorce," said AAAML president Gary Nickelson.

Overall 57 percent of the attorneys surveyed noted fewer divorce filings since this time a year ago. According to matrimonial experts, the average divorce ranges from $2,500 to $10,000. A contested divorce, however, can approach $100,000 in legal fees alone.

"We've been getting as many consultations, but people have become much slower to file," said Atlanta divorce attorney Randy Kessler, whose client roster includes Tameka Foster Raymond, estranged wife of singer Usher, rapper Juvenile and Bishop Thomas Weeks III. "People are being much more cost-conscious about everything, including divorce."

And they're arguing less over picayune details.

"I'd have people spending thousands of dollars arguing over an extra visitation day," Kessler said. "Not seeing much of that now."

That's bad news for private investigators and matrimonial accountants who generate a portion of their income on such business.

Then there's the couples who are probably better off apart.

"I think they're doing the right thing for the wrong reasons," Kessler said of couples staying together for purely financial motives. "That can lead to more tension, more violence."

http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/divorces-d...ith-183765.html

[rick]

the proof is in, people dump each other be cause they can afford to.

why so many divorces in Hollywood? Because they can afford them.

Monogamy is a crock.

[Kathi]

Well, we've even seen divorced couples moving in back together because they can't afford two households, so this is not really big news. I generally believe that people go too easily into a marriage, not considering that "till death do us part" means a heck of a lot of years to come. Is it a good thing that it's becoming more difficult to get divorced, even just because of simple finances? I don't know, but maybe they or their friends/family will learn from this and think twice about what it means to sign a contract...