DadsDivorce.com provides essential information and resources about divorce, alimony, child support and child custody to men and fathers at any stage of divorce.

by Gene Reeves for DadsDivorce.com

This is a true story about the love of a single dad and how the current economic crisis has affected just one family in America. There are many families out there facing similar problems.

Some of those are also struggling with more pressing issues than this family. And some others have just given up and turned to welfare to sustain them. Some have turned to crime. Some are still trying to make it without depending on the Government, they still believe that America became great because we, as a Nation, worked to achieve greatness. Sam (all names have been changed), believes in his heart that he should be the master of his destiny. He believes that he should be working and providing for himself and his family, Since he was in his teens, Sam had always had a job. Now, for the past year, he has been looking for a way to support his family. Sam is a single parent.

by Richard J. Coffee, II, Litigation Manager Illinois Offices, Cordell & Cordell, P.C.

"'In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes."  Benjamin Franklin, 1789, The Works of Benjamin Franklin.  With the current divorce rates reported by various sources to be anywhere from 40 to 60 per cent of first marriages ending in divorce, perhaps an addendum this adage should warn of the almost certainty of divorce.  As with death and taxes, advanced planning for the possibility of divorce is well advised.

The considerations in marital estate planning are similar to the issues in anticipating the impact of taxes or probate.  The assets and debts should be carefully structured to preserve as much of the assets and to avoid as much of the debts as fiscally and legally possible.  The laws of the state of residence and/or of the state in which property is located may dictate the specific options and procedures available for planning the potential division of marital assets and debts.

Even with today's news of indications of economic improvement,  the rough economy is still hurting many.  Among them are those struggling to pay their child support. A recent article in The Providence Journal focused upon men who are unable to make their child support payments due to lack of work.

The article describes how over the course of two days, "dozens of men were summoned courtrooms… to answer questions about why they are not making their child support payments."

by Dan Danford, for DadsDivorce.com

Several years ago, my daughter Jennifer was in Los Angeles with a church group.  Another daughter – Jessica -- was in Boston for an academic competition.  Sarah, my third daughter, stayed home with me; Chris traveled to Boston.  Geographically, you can’t spread a family much further than that!

Today, it’s common for families to jump on an airplane for a weekend trip to Chicago or Orlando.  It’s cheaper to travel than ever before.  Another factor is at work, too.  Families are more affluent.  When I was young, the very notion of a weekend trip would nave been ridiculous.  In fact, many things that seemed absurd then are commonplace today.

Affluence may be a double-edged sword, though.  Everyone likes a higher living standard.  Yet, for some families, prosperity creates problems.  Drug and alcohol abuse, mental problems, various family dysfunctions can be aggravated by wealth.  Too much money can be as bad as too little!