Study: Loss of Virginity Earlier in Life Correlates With Higher Rates of Divorce Later in Life

A study conducted by the University of Iowa concludes that early teens who become sexually active are more likely to divorce than those whose first sexual experience occurs later in life. This is particularly true where the early teens’ first sexual experience was not wanted or where they were ambivalent about it.

The statistics are dramatic. Thirty-one percent of sexually active teens divorce within five years after marriage and forty-seven percent within ten years after marriage.

This contrasts with fifteen percent and twenty-seven percent for women who abstain from sex until reaching adulthood.

The study also reports that the overwhelming majority of teens who become sexually active are ambivalent about it.

The study does not draw any clear cut conclusions as to the why behind its findings. It is possible that early teens who become sexually active are simply predisposed toward divorce, but it seems more likely that their sexual precocity fosters ideas and conduct that contribute toward divorce.

Read more in this University of Iowa press release: UI study examines link between teen sex and divorce rate.

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Boyfriend Dies of Wounds Inflicted By … Running Into Knife Held by Girlfriend

Twenty-three year old Boyfriend and seventeen year old Girlfriend live together.

Boyfriend has criminal record, including an arrest for resisting arrest.

Girlfriend reportedly tells Boyfriend that she is leaving him.

Boyfriend and Girlfriend argue.

Boyfriend allegedly “roughs up” Girlfriend.

Girlfriend allegedly obtains a knife from their kitchen.

Boyfriend gets stabbed …

When he runs into the knife, according to Girlfriend.

Boyfriend dies of his stabbing wound.

Girlfriend is arrested on charges of second degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon.

She awaits arraignment.

Read more in this New York Daily News article: Teen girl charged with murdering her boyfriend says he ‘ran into the knife’.

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Many States Are Poised for Alimony Reform, Possibly Including Guidelines

To a large extent, alimony is a roll of the dice. Not so much whether alimony will be awarded, but how much – and for how long.

Not just in Florida, but in many states.

By contrast, most states, like Florida, have child support guidelines. A formula or calculation to determine child support.

This simplifies child support calculations and facilitates amicable resolution of child support disputes.

But such clarity continues to elude alimony.

But when New York finally adopted no-fault divorce last year, it legislated a formula for calculating temporary alimony.

Yet, for whatever reason, the New York legislature stopped at temporary alimony. It might have pushed the envelope just a little bit further and applied the formula to all alimony cases, at least as a starting point.

Two other states have adopted formulae for temporary alimony. At the same time, there is currently a good deal of pressure to broadly modify alimony laws across the nation.

The latter seems almost inevitable. If so, perhaps legislatures will seize the opportunity to implement guidelines in temporary as well as final alimony determinations.

Read more in this New York Times editorial: Ending the Alimony Guessing Game.

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Fathers Come Into Their Own With Equal Parenting

Times have changed.

A Canadian survey approximately ten years ago concluded that working moms and dads devoted roughly equal time to parenting.

And parents reaching amicable settlements of their divorces these days tend to end up with equal parenting time.

But, as of 1995, only about 49,000 fathers were designated as primary residential parents.

As of 2010, however, about 154,000 fathers were designated as primary residential parents.

Children generally do better when both of their parents are actively involved in their lives.

And fathers generally do much better when they are actively involved in their children’s lives.

Read more in this [Canadian] National Post editorial: Denying fathers their rights.

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Grandparent Timesharing Re-Visited: One Southern State Legislates Grandparent Visitation as Neighboring State Strikes Down Mandatory Grandparent Timesharing as Unconstitutional Under Federal Law

Tennessee Husband and Wife are divorced.

They have a Child together.

Husband has reportedly been battling to see his Child for fourteen years.

It isn’t clear whether the Wife is arbitrarily denying Husband visitation or whether it is really the family court denying Husband visitation.

Because Husband’s visitation is frustrated though, Grandmother, his mother, has also been denied timesharing with Child.

But that may be about to change.

Tennessee has just passed a statute that authorizes judges to award grandparents timesharing with their grandchildren.

It remains to be seen, however, whether the new law will survive a constitutional challenge.

Ironically, Tennessee’s neighboring state of Alabama has just struck down a statute mandating timesharing for grandparents as unconstitutional under settled federal law upholding the fundamental right of fit parents to determine their children’s best interests.

Read more in this [Knoxville, TN] WBIR-TV 10 news article: Judges could soon decide grandparent visitation rights and this New England Cable News article: Ala. court strikes down law for grandparent rights

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