What should you think about separation from your children?

Your thoughts on separation must include planning about your children’s future. If you share children together it is very important that they come first. You may have differences with one another that make you want to pull your hair out, but your children should not have to suffer more than necessary during your separation.

Who are long married couples end in separation or divorce?

David and Holly Petraeus don’t fit the mold, say, of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver, since Holly Petraeus has not been nearly as prominent as her military-hero-turned-CIA-chief husband of 38 years. And we don’t know, yet, whether their marriage will survive.

What happens to property if an unmarried couple splits up?

If a cohabiting couple splits up, they do not have the same legal rights to property as a married couple. In general, unmarried couples can’t claim ownership of each other’s property in the event of a breakup. This applies to big investments (such as a house) and smaller items (such as furniture).

What happens if you separate from a cohabiting couple?

Legally, cohabiting couples have no financial responsibility to one another if they separate. If your relationship ends you have no legal responsibility to provide your former partner with financial support. Many cohabiting couples choose to start a family together.

What was the decision to separate from my wife?

Marriage separation is seen more clearly through hindsight. When I separated from my wife, it was a sad and scary process. But the decision to go through with our separation was, ultimately, a smart one. That said, there have been more than a few bumps in the road I wasn’t ready for or simply didn’t see coming.

What did I tell my kids during the separation?

At the onset of the separation process, and especially during my move out of the house, the ex and I kept telling the kids that “not much would change” and that we’d “still be a family.” We were lying but only because we believed the lie ourselves.

Is it possible for a separation to last forever?

Despite your best intentions—just as is true for your married counterparts—statistics suggest that your relationship may not last forever. The anger and sense of loss that so often accompany a separation cannot be overcome by any law or counsel; emotional crises are best addressed through the help of friends, family, and therapists.

When did the baby boomers start to divorce?

The Baby Boomers, who started turning 50 in 1996, haven’t been quite so reluctant to divorce — either in youthful or mature marriages. That may explain, at least in part, the increase in gray divorce. In 1990, 5 out of 1,000 married people over 50 divorced. By 2010, it was 10 out of 1,000.