Local divorce rates flat five months after Michael
It seems only natural that all of the new stresses -- repairing broken homes, financial issues, more extreme feelings -- would weigh on a marriage and possibly break it. After all "your whole world is upside down,"
Looking at five months of data since the Hurricane Michael, at least so far, divorce rates have stayed the same in
It's worth noting the court system was closed for a stretch of this time due to storm damage and people have moved, both factors that could have skewed the numbers.
"I do (think a rise in divorces is coming)," said
But once things settle, Smith believes more people will start assessing their marriages, and research into past storms shows the spike is often near immediate.
After Hurricane Andrew there was a sharp spike, 30 percent, in the divorce rate in Dade County in the first two months. In a story written by the
"These marriages already were in trouble and all of a sudden they had
Then, the divorce rate leveled off.
A few years earlier, when Hurricane Hugo impacted
Once again, social researchers documented a similar phenomenon to what was seen after Andrew. It wasn't necessarily stress driving the situation, but often the chance at a clean slate played a role.
Potential Resources
Whether this all happens here remains to be seen, but locally people are preparing resources to help couples either work through it if they want to stay together or get through the divorce if they feel they would be happier apart.
Knowing it's a stressful time for relationships, Kirksey, with the religious affiliate marriage organization Live the Life, said his group is planning two seminars in the area in April, one at
"There's a lot of stress and it brought out issues that were lying dormant and have been exposed," Kirksey said. "You're forced to live in a cramped camper or move to a new place every month and you can't get back to normal."
The
When it can't be worked out, there are other resources in the community to help make the divorce go more smoothly. Smith, with Sand Oaks, is a financial analyst in mediator that focuses on creating a "kinder, gentler, smarter" divorce, he said, where it can be possible to maintain a cordial relationship.
One of the most complicated and earliest steps is the financial discovery, determining what is owned and owed.
"Some people freeze like a deer in the headlights," he said.
Bringing someone such as Smith in early can help navigate that step and then help avoid potential mistakes that will cost separating couples in taxes or penalties and then make sure the plan ultimately agreed upon is held up and "not put on a shelf," Smith said. He can also help direct people toward other resources.
Another resource in the area is meant to help people tackle one of the most challenging aspects in a divorce -- what happens to the house.
"It's not just who wants it and a column on a spread sheet," said
Johnson, with
With her services, she helps people make sure they get "all the questions answered" such as the insurance, the value and condition, and what the expenses might be. If people decide they want to sell after a free consultation with her, she can also help with that.
"Really consider what's in the best interest of the house and the family," said Johnson, who often speaks to groups about this. "A lot of people need a clean start. No matter what the condition of the house, there is a market.
"Everything is on the market, houses that need to be torn down, houses that weren't touched," she continued. "It's a sellers market. They can take the stress of fixing it off their plate."
___
(c)2019 The News Herald (Panama City, Fla.)
Visit The News Herald (Panama City, Fla.) at www.newsherald.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
$638.8 Million Powerball Jackpot Comes With Annuity Option
Rubén Rosario: Next week, they may have to leave behind their kids and the place they love
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News