Divorce (or the dissolution of marriage) is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and

responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties (unlike annulment which declares the marriage null and void). Divorce laws vary considerably around the world but in most countries it requires the sanction of a court or other authority in a legal process. The legal process for divorce may also involve issues of alimony (spousal support), child custody, child support, distribution of property and division of debt. Where monogamy is law, divorce allows each former partner to marry another; where polygyny is legal but polyandry is not, divorce allows the woman to marry another. Between 1971 and 2011, several countries legalized divorce, the last one Malta in 2011. This leaves the Philippines as the only country that does not have a civil procedure for divorce for the whole population. Muslims are granted divorce rights. Vatican City, a ecclesiastical sovereign citystate, also has no procedure for divorce. "Divorcing one's parents" is a term sometimes used to refer to emancipation of minors. The Advantages & Disadvantages of a Divorce to a Family When a couple marries, it is in the hope that their marriage will last. However, there are times within a marriage when you can question whether you should get a divorce. There are several arguments for the advantages and disadvantages of divorce. Each argument has different weighting, depending on the family's situation. Disadvantage: Impact on Children Divorce doesn't just affect the couple who are splitting; children feel the impact, too. A disadvantage is the negative impact it will have on children. Researchers and psychologists accept that divorce can negatively affect toddlers and teenagers, according to the University of New Hampshire. Toddlers will often believe they are to blame for a divorce, while teenagers may feel pressured into siding with one parent. The results are that a child will grow up doubting his ability to marry and can suffer depression because of the break-up of his family. Disadvantage: Psychological Effect on Adults An argument against divorce is its negative effect on a couple's psychological health. "Divorce has been rated the number one life stressor," according to Arizona State University. Adults can suffer a negative psychological balance, including high levels of anxiety, unhappiness and depression. Your psychological and emotional well-being can, therefore, be severely damaged by divorce, and it can affect the rest of your life. Sponsored Links

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Advantage: Impact on Children The impact of divorce on children has been stated previously as a disadvantage. However, there is an advantage to a child's parents splitting up. A child who experiences divorce may mature quicker and develop responsibility at a younger age. If a child's father moves out and she has younger siblings, she may have to take on a co-parental role with her mother. This exposure will give her a sense of responsibility that other areas of her life can benefit from. Also, children will benefit from divorce if there is a high level of conflict in their parents' marriage. It is unhealthy for children to be around parents who fight and criticize each other. Advantage: Personal Growth An advantage to divorce is the personal growth a person goes through after the event. "Divorced individuals report higher levels of autonomy and personal growth than do married individuals," says Miami University professor of philosophy, Robin L. Graff-Reed, in her article, "Positive Effects of Stressful Life Events: Psychological Growth Following Divorce." This is because divorced individuals have to become self-sufficient and cope with the pressures of everyday life by themselves. After divorce, individuals can develop the personal skills that can help them work towards a better quality of life for themselves and their children.