Poor Economy Leading to Fewer Divorces in Connecticut
Posted on Jan 15, 2009 10:20am PST
According to ConnPost.com, many Connecticut couples who are unhappy with their marriages are blaming the poor economy for postponing their
divorces. The website reports that more and more spouses who are holding off on filing for divorce are choosing to do so because the economic conditions make it hard to spend money on court documents and legal fees.
Spouses are choosing to stay together in the hopes that they will be able to save money.
In a press release written by Connecticut divorce lawyer, Peter McGuinness, it is reported that the, "rate of local divorce filings has decreased by 40 percent over the same time period last year, all due to the horrid state of the economy." Instead of going their separate ways, McGuinness asserts that spouses are choosing to remain "reluctant housemates".
In November, the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) reported that going through emotional, mental and financial suffering during a divorce is "one less thing people have to worry about as the economy takes a turn for the worse." The AMML reports that of its 1,600 members, 37% have seen a decrease in the number of clients who are filing for a divorce. Only 19% of AAML members report that there has been an increase in divorce filings amongst their clients. This means that there has been an overall decrease in the amount of divorces filed during the year 2007 - 2008.
When asked why couples are choosing to postpone divorce proceedings, one AAML member said that couples are choosing to remain together because the, "value of real estate is down significantly. Couples might not have any equity in their house and might choose to wait now with deferred assets, loss in their 401(k) and losing their jobs."
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