Is Living Together Worse than Marriage Long-Term?

A new doctoral thesis by Finnish researcher Elina Maenpaa tends to prove my theory - if you are in a committed relationship, it is better to get married than live together.

As reported by YLE News:

"Cohabiting partners tend to break up more often than married couples. Annually, cohabiting couples are two to three times more likely to call it quits than their married counterparts. This is in spite of the fact that there are many times more married couples than cohabiting partners. Low education and income levels in particular can put common law unions at risk."

The article has more interesting information about factors appearing to lead to more breakups, including the absence of children (or fewer children), and lower education and income levels. Also, statistics collected by Statistics Finland show that parental examples as a very important factor in whether couples remain together or divorce.

It may seem strange coming from a divorce lawyer, but I recommend that people marry if they intend to stay together. Illinois family law (the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act) provides many protections unavailable to unmarried couples. These rights include potential maintenance (alimony), division of marital property, and more. There is no "common law marriage" in Illinois. If you have a DuPage family law or divorce matter, please call our firm to schedule a consultation at 630.665.7676.

In UK, Private Detective Use Up - Spouses Hire Sam Spade?

U.K. law firm Grant Thornton released its annual divorce survey, as reported by Eoghan Williams today in The Independent. Apparently in the UK, the trend to use private detectives increased dramatically in the past year, with people of lesser means increasingly seeking the help of investigators as well as the rich. Infidelity was cited as the main reason for divorce in 2007, resulting in 29 per cent of divorces in the UK. Interestingly, the article also mentioned that in the UK prenuptial agreements (prenup or prenupts) are not binding! If you need assistance with your DuPage County Illinois divorce or prenuptial agreement, please contact our firm at 630.665.7676.

Illinois Divorce Law - Final And Appealable Orders - Post Decree

In Marriage of Knoerr, 2-06-1060 (December 21, 2007) the Illinois Appellate Court, Second District (covering DuPage, Kane, and Kendall Counties, among others) held that an appeal could not be taken from a post-divorce court decision requiring a father to contribute to post-high school educational expenses for a child because another matter was still pending in the case, and the Court had not issued a "final and appealable" order (using Illinois Supreme Court Rule 304(a) language.) The Court stated that only contempt orders requiring fines or penalties may be appealed while other matters are pending in the same case. The Court dismissed the appeal.

The bottom line - you may only appeal from final and appealable orders in Illinois. Temporary orders or interim orders in divorce cases are not appealable. Orders entered (other than contempt orders as stated above) are not appealable while other matters are pending. Appeals are expensive. Make sure your Illinois lawyer understands appellate law and family law if pursuing an appeal.

We can handle your Illinois divorce appeal. Call 630.665.7676, or email