DOMA Ruling: The Impact of this Historic Supreme Court Decision

By Charles W. Morrison   |   June 29th, 2013

How Will DOMA Affect Individuals In Other States?

In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court overturned the federal 17-year-old DOMA act (Defense of Marriage Act), leaving many people wondering the effects this ruling will have on same-sex couples in their state.  Hopefully the following information might be helpful when trying to understand this major decision in the United States v. Windsor case. In order to dispel a misconception, it should be noted that this decision does not require states to recognize same-sex marriages.

The primary point to take away from this ruling is that it will ONLY affect individuals residing in the 13 states* and the District of Columbia that have legalized gay marriage.  So, in Ohio, the DOMA ruling will not have any real present substantive affect.  But it may end up becoming a step forward in legalizing gay marriage.

Now that DOMA has been overturned, legally married same-sex couples in those specific states will be granted the same federal benefits to which heterosexual married couples have been entitled.  … View Full Article → “DOMA Ruling: The Impact of this Historic Supreme Court Decision”

Divorce – Tips on Dividing Your Stuff!

By Guest Contributor Donna F. Ferber, LPC, LADC   |   June 22nd, 2013

How To Divide Your Marital Property During The Process Of Divorce

A Divorce is not a single event, but a series of losses, changes and transitions. There are many watershed moments in the process of dissolving a marriage. One that seems overlooked for its emotional impact is the division of the martial property.

It is easy to say, “It’s just stuff, it can be replaced”, but the accumulation of furniture, objects and even chintzy doodads of no “real value” are keepers of the couple’s stories. As the years go on, we amass possessions that hold memories and are the tangible evidence of the milestones and celebrations of the relationship. Our stuff holds our history.

There is that collection of shot glasses representing the states you visited on that cross country trip as newlyweds. There is the writing desk his grandfather made, given to both of you as you celebrated a marital milestone.… View Full Article → “Divorce – Tips on Dividing Your Stuff!”

Online Dating: Less Likely to Divorce If You Met Your Spouse Online?

By Robert "Chip" Mues   |   June 15th, 2013

Early Study Reveals Online Dating Sites Among Best Meeting Place For Marital Bliss

A few recently published studies have explored the new developments in the field of online dating and online dating sites.  These studies have shown that, more often than not, couples who meet on these sites are more likely to stay together and are generally happier than couples who meet offline.   Below we’re going to break these studies down, go into the numbers a bit, and then detail any of the critiques that may be relevant to the recent studies.

Harris Poll Study On Online Dating

One study published in the Journal of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, involved contacting 20,000 recently married individuals.  Of these individuals, 35% met through an online dating website. (That’s 7,000!)  About 20 percent of online meetings happened through a social networking site such as Facebook or Twitter, and about 15 percent of those meetings happened through instant messaging, email or a chat room.… View Full Article → “Online Dating: Less Likely to Divorce If You Met Your Spouse Online?”

College Expenses: The Impact Of Student Loan Debt On Your Child

By Robert "Chip" Mues   |   June 8th, 2013

The ABC’s of College Loans – Plan How To Pay For College!

College tuition has risen drastically in the past 15 years.  In 1980, a public university cost around $2,000 a year for just tuition.  The average in 2010 is at $8,085 and continuing to rise at a rate of almost 4-5% a year.  With these rising costs, one would be surprised to notice the drastic increase in college applicants.  Today, nearly 1 in 3 young adults have a bachelor’s degree, and nearly 70% of young adults have some sort of college experience.  This increase in college tuition and applicants has led to a large accumulation of student loans.   Below, we’re going to take a look at some hypothetical scenarios, and some recent developments in legislation that can affect the future of new students and can have significant impacts on the choices they make.

First, we will take a look at what FAFSA is, and what it can tell you.… View Full Article → “College Expenses: The Impact Of Student Loan Debt On Your Child”

Child Abuse and the Penalties for False Reporting

By Guest Contributor, Daniel Pollack   |   May 25th, 2013

False Allegations Of Child Abuse Can End Up In Civil, Criminal, Or Juvenile Courts

The Jerry Sandusky criminal trial is over; the civil lawsuits are in active settlement mode. Undoubtedly, the entire country is more tuned into child abuse than it ever was. The National Conference of State Legislatures reports that about 105 bills on the reporting of suspected child abuse and neglect have been introduced in 2012 legislative sessions in 30 states and the District of Columbia. All of them include a penalty for failing to report suspected child abuse.

Oregon is one of the states which recently enacted child abuse reporting legislation. It added to the list of mandated reporters any employee or volunteer of an organization providing child-related services or activities, any employee of a higher education institution, and any coach, assistant coach or trainer of child athletes and any individual who provides guidance, instruction or training in youth development activities and youth camps.… View Full Article → “Child Abuse and the Penalties for False Reporting”

Divorce: How Employment Affects Men’s and Women’s Decisions to Divorce

By Robert "Chip" Mues   |   May 18th, 2013

Divorce, Employment And Marriage – An Analysis

Studies have often attempted to examine the intricate details of divorce by indicating what causes it, which party causes it and how can it be prevented.  Below is an analysis of the National Institution of Health’s study by Liana C.  Sayer of The Ohio State University about how the changing spectrum of society can affect marriages.  First, we’ll review two theories, then compare these and evaluate an opinion based off of these theories.

Institutional Perspective

The study on divorce and employment is broken into two theories, the first of which is considered the “Gendered Institutional” theory.  This theory seeks to classify marriage as it has been traditionally, where the male is often the breadwinner and the female is often the caretaker of the home and children. This view is often referred to as the codified version of marriage (as most states don’t allow same-sex marriage).  … View Full Article → “Divorce: How Employment Affects Men’s and Women’s Decisions to Divorce”

Computer Cybercrime Legislation: Spillover Tendencies

By Robert "Chip" Mues   |   May 11th, 2013

How Computer Cyber Security Laws Can Impact Family Disputes Differently From State To State

With the recent buzz surrounding computer cyber communications and email hacking, one should be informed on the general principles and laws of their state.   These laws have come about due to the recent explosion in email hacking, bank hacking, and corporate espionage that have plagued the telecommunication industry in recent years.  An attempt to curb these crimes has led to adoption and passing of harsh penalties that accompany the acts.

The harsh penalties that accompany these laws have the capability to cause “collateral damage.”  That is, damage to individuals whom the laws are not meant to injure.  These cases, such as the ongoing case in Michigan, often involve family disputes.  Let’s take a look…

Walker v. Walker

Facts to understand:  Leon Walker began to suspect his wife of cheating on him.  Acting on this suspicion, he accessed his wife’s email without first obtaining her consent to see if his suspicions were warranted.  … View Full Article → “Computer Cybercrime Legislation: Spillover Tendencies”

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