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Quality legal services from experienced attorneys you can trust.

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Quality legal services from experienced attorneys you can trust.

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Income disparities between spouses influence chances of divorce

On Behalf of | May 8, 2019 | Divorce, Firm News |

Despite advances for women in the workplace, most people in Pennsylvania tend to hold traditional views about husbands being the breadwinners of their families. A study published in 2016 concluded that the risk of divorce increased by 33% when the husband lacked a full-time job.

Individuals within marriages where the wife earns more than the husband appear to be influenced by social attitudes that expect men to be the primary providers. The Pew Research Center estimated that 40% of people expected fathers to support children financially whereas only 25% of respondents placed the same expectation upon mothers. When people internalize these social expectations, tension could increase between partners. Anecdotal evidence appearing in the media hints at female frustration when husbands fail to save money or when they rack up debt.

Some people suggest that men feel emasculated when their wives earn higher salaries. Wounded egos could contribute to relationship problems. This might be happening more frequently than it used to because more married or cohabitating women are out-earning their partners than in the past. Information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that 38% of wives have greater earnings than their husbands.

Financial stress and disagreements, regardless of the cause, frequently contribute to the dissolution of marriages. The process of getting a divorce, however, requires hashing out many financial issues with an ex-spouse. Decisions must be made about the division of marital property, including debts, child support and sometimes spousal support. An attorney may be able to improve a client’s understanding of the laws that direct aspects of the divorce settlement. Legal representation might help a person negotiate contentious issues related to real estate or retirement savings. An attorney may also help buffer a person from angry confrontations and attempt to broker effective compromises. If litigation becomes necessary, then an attorney may work to communicate their client’s needs to a judge.