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Recently in Divorce Category

Does Divorce Affect Our Economy?

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A 2002 study called "Does Marital History Matter? Marital Status and Wealth Outcomes Among Preretirement Adults" suggested that high divorce rates can have a negative impact on the economy. The Huffington Post reports that the study cites court costs, welfare, food stamps, public housing and increased bankruptcy as factors that are associated with divorce. These factors are known to have a strong effect on the country's economic climate.

Jamie McCourt Entitled To Equal Ownership Of Dodgers

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It seems that the lengthy divorce case between Frank and Jamie McCourt is close to ending. Los Angeles Judge Scott Gordon ruled yesterday that Jamie McCourt is entitled to half of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team as part of her divorce from her ex-husband Frank McCourt, according to Yahoo! sports. Attorneys representing team owner Frank McCourt tried to argue that a marital agreement excluded the Dodgers team from the couple's community property, but the judge's ruling shows that Frank McCourt was ultimately defeated in this property division battle.

Fraudulent Divorce Filing Leads To Lawsuit

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A woman from Harris County filed for a divorce from her husband George J. Prappas, but was surprised when she found out that she was no longer married.

The Southeast Texas Record reported that the wife Noelia Ayala Sunesara found out through her Texas family lawyer that her husband had already filed a divorce petition in January 2003. The attorney Scott P. Ogle discovered the already filed divorce petition when filing for the divorce on behalf of Noelia Ayala Sunesara.

Beyonce Knowles’ parents filed for divorce almost a year ago in Harris County after 29 years of marriage, but MTV News reports that Tina and Mathew Knowles didn’t show up for their scheduled divorce hearing on Monday. Hence, a judge dismissed the Texas dissolution of marriage case.

This could be a lesson to spouses that are seeking divorce. If you don’t show up to the hearing, the divorce can’t be finalized. Rumors have emerged through the media that Tina and Mathew Knowles have reconciled their relationship and might not be wanting a divorce after all. However, there has been no official news from Mathew or Tina’s reps about a possible reconciliation.

Can Children Prevent Divorce?

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The United States has a divorce rate of almost 50 percent. As stated through Marriage101.org, couples with children have a slightly lower rate of divorce than childless couples. Does this mean children in a marriage can keep parents from growing apart?

At least 66 percent of divorced couples do not have children. Sociologists believe that the absence of children in a relationship can lead to loneliness, which can lead to a depressing marriage. Not being able to have children can also be a common cause for a divorce.

The wife of the former baseball star Roberto Alomar claims that her husband "intentionally, with corrupt intent, concealed from [her] his physical condition" in order to get her to have unprotected sex with him. The wife, Maria Del Pilar Rivera, said through court documents that this was her reasoning for filing for divorce.

According to the New York Post, Maria Del Pilar Rivera is claiming that her husband outright lied to her and said that he tested negatively for sexually transmitted diseases. She also claims that Roberto Alomar knew prior to their first sexual contact that he was HIV positive. It was only after their wedding that she says she learned of him having the sexually transmitted disease. In filings, Maria Del Pilar Rivera also claimed this she wouldn't have agreed to marry Roberto Alomar if "she had known his true physical condition."

There have been many psychological studies done on how divorce impacts children. Because of the increasing rate of divorce, it's not uncommon these days for one or both partners in a marriage to come from a family of divorced parents. But does a child of divorced parents have more difficulties in romantic relationships or even in a marriage?

CNN reports that Nicholas Wolfinger, a professor of family and consumer studies at the University of Utah, says that divorce is more likely when there has already been a divorce within the family. The professor states that the risk of divorce is 50 percent higher when one spouse comes from a divorced home, and a 200 percent higher risk when both spouses have divorced parents. He also told CNN that children of divorce are 50 percent more likely to marry another child of divorce.

Stanley Boone Kills Wife After Divorce

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A Texas man who was angry about his divorce settlement went as far as to kill his ex-wife, the Houston Chronicle reports. The couple's son then got revenge and allegedly shot his 70-year-old father, once he saw his father kill his mother.

Investigators from the Brazoria County Sheriff's Office say that the couple's ongoing divorce battle was a factor in their deaths. Stanley Boone reportedly brought divorce proceedings against his wife Karla Boone in July 2009 after more than 30 years of marriage. But last month, a judge ordered that Karla Boone was to have exclusive use of their home in Manvel. The judge also issued a restraining order prohibiting the couple from contacting, or threatening to harm each other.

Lufkin Man Arrested for Bigamy

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Bigamy is not just another petty offense in the state of Texas. Having multiple spouses is actually a felony crime, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

The Lufkin Daily News reports that one 21-year-old man could be learning the consequences of bigamy the hard way. Justin Wayne Mitchamore, of Lufkin, reportedly married in March 2008 in Kansas, but separated from his wife after just three weeks of marriage. The man filed for a divorce in Angelina County in September 2009, but allegedly missed his final court date. Hence, his divorce was reportedly never finalized and his marriage was never dissolved.

Texas Court of Appeals Says No to Gay Divorce

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Same-sex couples are not allowed to marry in the state of Texas and as of Tuesday they're not allowed to get a divorce either.

A gay couple that legally married in Massachusetts, but resides in Texas, is now having difficulties ending their marriage. The two men known as J.B. and H.B. in court filings were granted a divorce in Texas last October by a Dallas district court judge, but Attorney General Greg Abbott appealed the judge's ruling. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that the 5th Texas Court of Appeals ruled on Tuesday that the district court judge did not have the authority to make a decision on a gay divorce case and reversed the ruling.