Fort Lauderdale Divorce Law Blog

Divorces naturally involve a division of marital property. But how does one approach the Solomonic task of dividing a couple's pet? Over the course of a marriage, each spouse may become closely attached to a dog, cat or other animal, making it difficult to reach a compromise in the event of a divorce.

For couples who cannot come to an agreement on their own, a divorce mediator experienced in pet disputes may offer a lasting solution. A mediator works by listening to spouses express their thoughts, feelings and emotions, which can run high during a divorce. Working collaboratively, the mediator helps the spouses translate those emotions into a productive, rational dialogue that empowers them to make a mutual decision.

The high divorce rate around the country is no secret. Some young people looking to beat those odds have searched for the causes of divorce and potential solutions that will enable them to have a lasting marriage. Some believe that the young age at which prior generations were married may be a contributing factor. In response, they have delayed marriage and instead have cohabited with a boyfriend or girlfriend for a period of time to determine whether they are compatible.

So, does a cohabitation "trial period" have the desired effect? Although approximately 7.5 million unmarried couples currently live together, and about 66 percent of people in their 20s believed that cohabitation can stave off divorce, the answer is a decided no. In fact, people who live together before marriage are more likely to get a divorce.

If you turn on the radio in Florida, you are liable to hear one of Katy Perry's songs off of her wildly successful album, Teenage Dream. In recent months, however, Perry has been in the public eye for more than her music. Her divorce from British comedian Russell Brand has generated a great deal of press as people have speculated what the final terms of the separation would be.

It seems that we now have an initial glimpse into who will keep what piece of property. Like many powerful celebrities, Perry and Brand were a high net worth couple, therefore their divorce stood to involve complex property division. In addition, the pair declined to create a prenuptial agreement, which could have increased the difficulty of later parceling out their marital property.

Residents of Florida are no doubt aware of the nationwide trend towards a lower percentage of couples deciding to marry. There are many possible reasons for this, from general skepticism about marriage to financial pressure exerted by the recent economic troubles. But whatever the cause, the fact remains that just over half of adults enter into marriage today.

This does not mean that people are not forming relationships, however. More people are simply deciding to live together, to have children together and to share finances together without walking down the aisle. But just because such couples are not bound together by a band of gold does not mean that they are immune from some of the troubles that can befall married couples. Some married couples enter into prenuptial agreements to decide how debts, assets and other aspects of their lives will be divided in the event of a divorce. And there is an equivalent for non-married couples as well.