4 Myths About Divorce

Divorce rates have been plummeting over the last few years. They hit an all-time low of 14.9 divorces for every 1,000 marriages, which should be a good thing. At the same time, marriage rates have been dropping too. In fact, 2019 had the lowest marriage rate of the last 20 years. This means that with divorce and marriage rates rapidly decreasing, there are at most 2.02 million marriages happening in the U.S. if rates don’t rise. This means there are about 2 million couples who will get divorced this year who should learn about 4 of the most common divorce myths before they consider getting one.

If there are 14.9 divorces for every 1,000, then out of about 2 million, we have about 300,000 divorces. That’s a lot of people about to walk into divorce court, uninformed. They may be stressing over a situation that may not happen, or not worried about one that will. Here are the 4 myths about divorce to look out for.

#1. The Divorce Process is Always Heated

Divorce is only as volatile as you and your partner want it to be. If more people walked into a divorce without this toxic myth in their heads, divorces would go a lot smoother. You do not even have to end up in court if you and your partner agree to something like a Collaborative Divorce. A divorcing couple can avoid litigation by utilizing meditation and negotiation for a divorce settlement. For a collaborative divorce, you only need a lawyer comfortable with being an advocate for a mutually beneficial divorce.

#2. Marital Property is Always a Split Down the Middle

California may mandate a 50/50 split between marital assets, but Pennsylvania has no such law. Outcomes vary so much between divorces, that it’s truly impossible to say for sure how marital assets will split in a divorce. Certain awards which were once common, like indefinite alimony, have become a rarity. There is the Divorce Code which provides factors that help guide the court towards fair equity. This code is particularly geared in terms of alimony, but that’s only a guide.

#3. Adultery Means You Lose Everything

Adultery is a factor that can grant a divorce, but it is not brought into consideration when determining marital assets or an alimony award. Adultery only makes it clear as to why a court should grant a divorce, but it does not affect the adulterer’s interest in their home.

#4. Divorce is Automatically Finalized After One Year

A divorce can be granted in Pennsylvania after gaining the consent of both parties, if one party is at fault, or after the famed one-year separation. Again, this myth is similar to the previous, in that there is a misconception on what it means to grant and finalize a divorce. Your court can confirm that you will be granted a divorce before finalizing the division of your marital assets. If you have no assets to divide, or can easily agree on the division of property, your case can end rather quickly. But if you have property to divide, the court cannot magically divide it at the one-year mark. 

Kalinoski’s Track Record is Not a Myth

Scranton divorce attorney Craig Kalinoski is a tough and fair negotiator and litigator who can fight on your behalf in court. He also practices unbiased mediation for divorcing couples looking to avoid a volatile court appearance. However you wish to go about your divorce, our lifetime lawyer is here in your corner.

If you are looking for a divorce attorney to guide you through collaborative divorce, attorney Craig Kalinoski is here for you. Contact us today for a free consultation.

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