Here’s the question we asked our readers:
Do you know someone whose divorce was unnecessary?
Here’s how readers responded:
88 Percent Yes
12 Percent No
We asked this question because of a new policy initiative called “Second Chances: A Proposal to Reduce Unnecessary Divorce.” The press release for the new project from Institute for American Values states that “a majority of divorced couples actually report average happiness and low levels of conflict in the years prior to the divorce.” New research shows that about 40 percent of U.S. couples who are already into the divorce process say that one or in 10 percent of the cases, both husband and wife were interested in the possibility of reconciliation. Yet during the divorce process, family courts never even ask them that question.
“Second Chances” recommends that lawmakers implement policies that:
- · Extend the waiting period for divorce
- · Parents with minor children complete a pre-filing education course with a section on reconciliation
- · Increase and improve education available to couples at risk of divorce.
For the sake of all children, we hope that legislators and family courts are listening.