Your Friends and Family’s Divorce May Have An Impact On Your Marriage (Part B)

While studies show that the divorces of people in your social circle can affect your marriage, that doesn't mean you should panic if someone you know and trust is going through a divorce in Virginia. Divorce statistics do not inherently doom any one relationship.

The Reality of Divorce in Virginia and Beyond

Most Virginians have close friends and family members who are divorced, not to mention co-workers and acquaintances whose marriages have ended. Instead of focusing on whether this could weaken your own marriage-or intensify any inclinations you might have for seeking a divorce in Virginia-you can take these studies to heart in a more positive, proactive way.

The findings that "divorce is contagious" can give you the opportunity to be alert to the effects of friend's and family's divorces on your marriage and inspire you to create coping strategies to keep your marriage strong, should your desire be to avoid getting a divorce in Virginia.

Coping Strategies for a Healthy Marriage

Listed below are suggestions on how you can work to strengthen your own marriage if you are concerned about catching the "ripple" effects of a friend or family member's Virginia divorce:

Couples should try and improve their communication skills. Ineffective communication is one of the leading causes of marital problems and divorce in Virginia. Learn to communicate openly, honestly and respectfully with your spouse.
Commit to spending some quality time together. Schedule date nights and family nights to encourage fun and emotional bonding.
Do your best to work out financial problems. Debt, overspending and other financial issues can spark endless arguments and bitterness between partners, leading to a Virginia divorce. Do what you can to sort out money messes and seek the services of a financial counselor if necessary.
If you know a couple in your social circle that is getting a divorce in Virginia, be there to support them. You and your spouse can bond over being a source of strength to a couple going through hard times.

Divorce Laws and the Prevalence Of Divorce

Many states, such as Virginia, have adopted a "no fault" divorce system, which allows people to obtain divorces without having to prove that any "fault" based grounds-adultery, abuse, abandonment, and so on-took place.

Some experts believe that making divorce so easily accessible will lead to more divorces, and statistics from states that have converted to no-fault divorce systems support this.

Though it observes a no-fault system, Virginia divorce law does not make it overwhelmingly easy for couples to divorce in most circumstances.

The state's divorce laws force a couple to seriously consider their decision to divorce and to follow the proper legal avenues, which takes a certain amount of time and effort to complete.

If You Are Seriously Considering a Divorce in Virginia

Despite a couple's best efforts, some marriages simply come to an end. If you find yourself in this situation, don't look at it as a failure. Instead, focus on seeking good legal representation and looking to your future.

At this vulnerable time, it's critical that you have exceptional legal representation that not only understands the specifics of your case, but is dedicated to your best interests and that of your family.

The Virginia divorce attorneys at Hofheimer/Ferrebee represent Virginia women who wish to file for divorce. We are committed to fighting for your rights, assisting in child custody disputes, and advocating that you receive everything you are entitled to and need in order to start your new life. You can learn more by requesting a FREE copy of our guide, What Every Virginia Woman Should Know About Divorce, or reserving your seat at our monthly divorce seminar - 757-425-5200.

To order your free book-www.freedivorcebook.com
information on seminars-www.monthlydivorceseminars.com
info on collaborative divorce-www.virginiacollaborativelaw.com
information-estate planning for young families-www.generationslawfirm.com
information-family law and estate planning for the LGBT community-www.FamilyEqualityLawCenter.com