A Brief History
Per the Australian Institute of Family Studies, the divorce rate in Australia was at its lowest in 2016, when it was one-point-nine per 1,000 Australian residents. This figure slightly increased in 2017, at two per 1,000 Australian residents.
Digging Deeper
People may divorce over suspicions or confirmation of cheating, frequent arguments, communication issues, diminished intimacy, financial disagreements, a lack of a shared vision of success, spouses growing apart from one another, domestic violence, and more.
Whether couples are facing mild or severe circumstances, they must do their best to ensure they have safe ways to end a relationship and support and protect themselves and any children they have.
Both parties in a divorce should seek and adhere to information regarding child support, family support services, divorce laws, fees, starting or opposing divorce applications, proof of a divorce, separation, nullity, organizing income and insurance, and more. When pursuing a divorce, couples should investigate the legal requirements for such a process and what obligations they must fulfill. In Australia, for instance, married couples who wish to end their union must prove that their marriage has broken down ‘irretrievably’ by being separated for a year or longer without the likelihood of resuming the relationship.
Divorce records are public information unless filed under seal because courts handle the proceedings. These records offer details about the reasons for a divorce, the terms and settlements, and more. Internet users can access divorce records online, just as they can view people’s address and contact information, arrest and police records, mugshots, and more.
Divorce is a crucial step that requires a lot of thought. There are many factors to consider, five of them listed below, before getting a divorce.
Experiencing an emotional rollercoaster.
The party initiating the divorce can feel as confused, depressed, sad, and afraid as the spouse they’re leaving. It is normal for people to be anxious about their future after ending their marriage, and for old feelings to resurface now and then.
Think of the children.
While many children of divorced couples can cope over time with their parents’ decision to end their marriage, they may experience academic and behavioral disruptions immediately following a split. Both parents must talk to their kids about their feelings and thoughts.
Sharing is caring.
In divorces without extreme circumstances, parents are typically granted joint custody. For this reason, people should consider their children’s academic and extracurricular schedules and how to get them to and from school and other places, to create a custody arrangement that suits everyone.
Consider hiring an attorney.
Interviewing multiple lawyers before filing for divorce is a practical idea that ensures a party that their legal representation comes from a lawyer that fits their style and understands their legal obligations. Competent lawyers make sure they know the facts, can handle various types of assets involved, and avoid costly mistakes and delays.
Be prepared.
Documentation is a crucial part of divorce cases. Spouses should note each other’s income, wages, debts, assets, financial records, insurance paperwork, and other relevant documents.
Married and divorced people need financial protection. Some people protect themselves and their children with life insurance. During a divorce, life insurance policies may be the only way to secure child support and alimony payments from a former spouse. In some cases, people may have to remove their former spouse as their beneficiary or change their life and health insurance altogether.
When purchasing new insurance, people must be sure they get enough coverage and be aware that the coverage amount they can take out differs between insurance providers. Internet users can compare life insurance with iSelect, an informative web resource, to search for the best coverage.
Factors such as one’s age, income, and outstanding debts, including a mortgage, can impact coverage. A life insurance calculator can help coverage seekers determine how much insurance they need and make well-informed decisions.
After both parties make the necessary considerations, reach agreeable divorce terms, and sign the papers, one phase of hard work ends as the next begins. Former spouses would have to then heal from any emotional stress of ending their marriage and learn to move on with life.
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Historical Evidence
For more information, please see…
Phillips, Roderick. Putting Asunder: A History of Divorce in Western Society. Cambridge University Press, 1988.
Reed, Mary, John Ventura, et al. Divorce for Dummies: 3rd Edition. Tantor Audio, 2019. Audible Audiobook.
The featured image in this article, a chart by Leighblackall of marriage and divorce rates expressed as percentages of the Australian population at the time based on statistics from the ABS 2008, is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
