After 25 years together, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver announced their separation in May. Last year, the forty year marriage of Tipper and Al Gore ended as well.

These political couples aren’t alone in separating after a long relationship. A U.S. Census report issued this year shows that fewer first marriages are making their 25th, 30th, and 35th wedding anniversaries, even though life expectancies have increased.

Though the data doesn’t tell the age of the couples upon separation, divorce attorneys and financial planners claim witness to a growing number of long established couples parting ways.

Lynn Maier, a divorce lawyer and partner at Kurzman Eisenberg Corbin & Lever in White Plains, N.Y, says, “As years go by and they get close to retirement age, where they have to be near one another more, one of them realizes they don’t want to live the rest of their life in this manner.”

All things considered, who would want to get married to someone they want to live the rest of their life with?

For more information, check out: The Wall Street Journal

The New York Times just published an op-ed articles discussing how no-fault divorce is the best way to protect children (and all people involved) from the harmful consequences of divorce.  Unfortunately, New York is the only state in the nation that does not allow no-fault divorce, except under the narrow exception of what is called a conversion divorce where the parties had filed a separation agreement with the court and waited a year.

The article’s author, Ruth Bettleheim, is a marriage and family therapist.  She cites some interesting pro-divorce (or at least pro-uncontested divorce) research that challenges the widely held preconception that children of divorced families are worse off than their non-divorced home peers.  The studies show that this preconceived notion is false.  It actually shows that children of divorced homes are no worse off than their non-divorced home peers, and actually may become more resilient from enduring the divorce process.

Bettleheim also discusses how fault based divorce litigation and child custody battles are horrible for childrens’ well being.  She states that the no-fault (or New York uncontested divorce) way of going about divorce is far more beneficial to children and all people involved.

If you would like to learn if a New York uncontested divorce is a viable option for you and your family, please contact The Law Office of David Centeno, PLLC at our toll-free number (866) 830-2064 now to schedule your free divorce consultation.

The press just released the story that John and Elizabeth Edwards have legally separated, after their marriage had been under the media microscope during the last two Presidential campaigns.

Mr. Edwards admitted last week, after a long cover up, that he fathered a child in 2007 with another woman, Rielle Hunter, outside his marriage.  The child will be turning 2 years old next month. He had previously fervently denied the accusation, especially when accusations arose during his Presidential campaigns.

The legal separation came as a result of Mrs. Edwards discovering the truth regarding Mr. Edwards and Ms. Hunter.

Sadly, as if the story could not get any worse, this news comes to Mrs. Edwards after she was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Andrew Young, a former aide, is releasing a book about the affair between Mr. Edwards and Ms. Hunter.  Mr. Young had once claimed that the baby girl was his to save Mr. Edwards from the political fallout associated with the revelation.  His book is also sharply critical of Mrs. Edwards and asserts that she sought to publicize her cancer for political gain.

If you are in need of information regarding obtaining a legal separation in New York State, our law office offers free consultations. (866) 830-2064.