Attorney Blog

US Official In Talks With Japan Regarding International Child Custody Issues

mbk@mollybkenny.com (Blog Author)33757 — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 08:00:00 EST

Many countries around the world agree that Japan’s child custody laws often unfairly treat foreign ex-spouses and sometimes lead to child abductions to the island country. However, Japan has been hesitant to speak out regarding their strange international child custody actions, including a recent case involving an American father who has lost contact with his two children after his ex-wife moved to Japan following the divorce.

In Japan, usually only one parent gets custody of the children in the wake of a divorce, and many agree that the system is somewhat biased against fathers.

This week, however, the top US diplomat for East Asia Kurt Campbell met with top Japanese officials in order to voice the United State’s concern with Japan’s policies. Japan is the only first world country that did not sign the 1980 Hague Convention that outlines appropriate international child custody actions. Justice Minister Keiko Chiba agreed that the subject was an important one to discuss.

Study: Divorce Can Be Contagious?

mbk@mollybkenny.com (Blog Author)33705 — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 08:00:00 EST

Just a week after Al and Tipper Gore announced their divorce, their 38-year-old daughter also announced that she was ending her marriage. But when friends or relatives file for divorce around the same time, it is coincidence or something more?

A new study suggests that there can be a connection between divorces. After analyzing 5,000 couples around the country, researchers have found that when those around you divorce, your chances of divorce can increase. In fact, the study found that those who have a friend who is going through a divorce are 147 percent more likely to divorce as well. Those who have a sibling who is divorced is 22 percent more likely to divorce, while those who have a coworker who is divorcing are 55 percent more likely to choose to end their marriage.

What is the cause? Researchers believe it is a phenomenon of social networks in which behavior can spread through families and other groups.

75-Year-Old Ballard Man Kills Elderly Wife, Himself

mbk@mollybkenny.com (Blog Author)33704 — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 08:00:00 EST

Seattle Police rushed to an apartment building, Ballard House, located on the 2400 block of Northwest 57th Street, after a 911 caller reported hearing a domestic dispute turn violence in a neighboring apartment. When authorities arrived at the Housing Authority high rise, they found that a 74-year-old man had beat his 75-year-old wife to death with a hammer before jumping from his sixth floor apartment. The 911 caller described a woman shouting before falling to the floor and becoming silent.

Washington firefighters kicked in the door to the couple’s apartment, where they found the woman bleeding on the floor near a window that was missing a screen. Although she was rushed to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, she died of her injuries. Neither the man nor the women involved in the murder/suicide have been identified. Of the seven murders recorded in Seattle since January, five have been related to domestic violence.

Five Out Of Seven 2010 Seattle Homicides Have Domestic Violence Connection

mbk@mollybkenny.com (Blog Author)33703 — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 08:00:00 EST

When we think about murder in Seattle, we might think of dark alleys, gang activity, poverty, or bad neighborhoods. But the truth is that a large percentage of homicides in Washington State are not related to street violence or even drug violence – but to violence between family members and couples. In fact, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer cited a shocking fact this week: of the seven murders that have taken place within Seattle city limits in 2010, five have been related to domestic violence.

In the most recent Washington domestic violence homicide case, a 74-year-old Ballard man bludgeoned his 75-year-old wife to death after an argument. The woman died as she was being rushed to the hospital, while her husband jumped from the couple’s sixth floor apartment, still clutching a hammer. One month earlier, a North Seattle man shot his girlfriend multiple times in a motel room before taking his own life.

Older Couples Splitting: Gray Divorce Can Happen 40 Years Into Marriage

mbk@mollybkenny.com (Blog Author)33702 — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 08:00:00 EST

The announcement that Al and Tipper Gore will be divorcing after 40 years of marriage shocked those who knew the couple in Washington as well as those around the country. It also has many wondering about the instances of “gray divorce” or “silver divorce” – marriages that split after many decades of seeming success.

According to the most recent census, about four percent of divorces are between couples that have been wed for more than four decades and one in four divorces occur between couples that have been married for more than two decades. Part of the issue might be that many couples divorcing now after 40 years were married in the 1970s – a generation that has a remarkably low success rate when it comes to marriage. Others note that with life spans becoming longer and longer, it is simply more difficult to stick with a partner for multiple decades without growing apart or running into irreconcilable differences.

Police Suspect Missing Seattle Woman Was Domestic Violence Victim

mbk@mollybkenny.com (Blog Author)31682 — Mon, 17 May 2010 08:00:00 EST

Just over one year after she disappeared, Seattle Police are once again asking for the public’s help in locating 21-year-old Nichol Cearo, a Washington State resident who police fear has been the victim of domestic violence. Cearo had experienced a relationship filled with domestic abuse with her boyfriend – a man that was with Cearo the last time she was seen and a man who authorities day may have admitted killing her last spring.

Seattle homicide detectives have been assigned to the missing persons case since September – but although they have searched Seward Park (where they believe her body may be located) and interviewed friends and family, the case has turned cold.

Cearo has not picked up her financial assistance checks since March 2009 and has not been seen since she was released from King County Jail on March 30. At that time, she left with her boyfriend. While Cearo has a history of minor brushes with the law, Seattle Police say that her boyfriend is a known felon with a long list of convictions.

Homeless Domestic Abuse Victim Now Seattle University Graduate

mbk@mollybkenny.com (Blog Author)31679 — Mon, 17 May 2010 08:00:00 EST

Seattle resident Mary Guiberson has an inspiring lesson to teach Washington State domestic violence survivors: you can overcome.

In 2007, Guiberson graduated from Seattle University a master’s degree in organizational system renewal and design. In the 90s, however, she struggled with domestic violence, homelessness, and drug addiction. After she fled her abusive relationship and the drugs that were ruining her life, she spent over a year in Seattle’s Compass Center – a place where transient Washington residents can get counseling, support, and a second chance at life.

Since her graduation, Guiberson has worked at the Compass Center, the Freedom Project, a group dedicated to teaching nonviolent communication, and Thrivers Action Group, a domestic violence social awareness group. At all of her endeavors, she hopes to help abused, isolated, and forgotten women in the Seattle area – women who she can truly relate to and women she can certainly give hope to.

Study: How Divorce Can Affect The Behavior of Teens

mbk@mollybkenny.com (Blog Author)31677 — Mon, 17 May 2010 08:00:00 EST

Does race, ethnicity, and culture have an affect on how children and teen handle the divorce of their parents? A new study says that it might.

According to Paula Fomby of the University of Colorado, who published her research in The Journal of Marriage and Family this month, teens who had to handle multiple family changes, such as divorce, moving, or economic hardship, were more likely to engage in dangerous behavior, unprotected sex, and drug use. White teens who suffered a divorce or other upsetting family change were more likely to show the affects of their changed family dynamics than African-American teens – and were even more at risk for unhealthy behavior and teen parenthood. Finally, the study found that while divorce and location chance had negative impacts on children, having to adjust to sudden economic hardship had the most profound affect on children.

While researchers can’t say why African-American teens are better able to come to terms with changes in the family dynamic, though some suggest that a larger and more supportive adult community help kids cope with difficult times.

Operation Military Family Strives To Keep Seattle Couples Together

mbk@mollybkenny.com (Blog Author)31675 — Mon, 17 May 2010 08:00:00 EST

While most of Washington State enjoys record low divorce rates, there is one group that is in increasing amounts of stress and has ever-growing rates of divorce: military families. The stress of an absent spouse, financial problems, and, obviously, the worry that comes with a spouse in combat is a terrible strain on a relationship.

To help these families in Seattle through tough times, a Washington organization called “Operation Military Families” is working to keep military families strong even during these times of war. Divorce can become a topic on the tongue of even couples who have only been together a few years, and Operation Military Families offers these left behind spouses counseling and alternative means to deal with their understandably rough thoughts and feelings.

This week the Seattle organization is celebrating “Petal Power,” in which volunteers can send drawings of flowers to spouses who need emotional support while they are alone.

Seattle Native And Retired NFL Player Corey Dillon Arrested For Spousal Abuse

mbk@mollybkenny.com (Blog Author)31674 — Mon, 17 May 2010 08:00:00 EST

Corey Dillon, a retired professional NFL football player and native of Washington State, has been arrested for spousal abuse this week. According to early reports, the 35-year-old athlete and his wife, Desiree, were involved in a domestic dispute at their home on Saturday night after Desiree called police for assistance. When police arrived, they observed that the woman had apparent minor injuries and was the victim of domestic violence and spousal abuse.

Reports say that Dillon and his wife were fighting over their impending divorce and child custody case at the time the domestic assault occurred.

Dillon, who early in his football career was a star player for the Washington Huskies and Franklin High School in Seattle, was arrested and then released on $50,000 bail. This is not Dillon’s only recent legal woe: last month he was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. He has yet to face either charge in court.

How Long Does It Take To Get Over A Divorce?

mbk@mollybkenny.com (Blog Author)29826 — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST

How long does it take to recover from the emotional strain of a divorce? While the answer is obviously different for everyone, one group has conducted a study and found an average: 17 months and 26 days. The timeframe includes both getting over the emotional stress of a divorce and getting through the legal aspects of ending your marriage – including the separation of property, child custody agreements, and moving.

One out of five respondents said that they have still not and may never get over their divorce. A few more numbers: most begin to feel better 16 months after their divorce and content after 18 months. The average time before a divorcee begins dating again is 15.5 months.

While every divorce is different, and everyone is allowed their own feelings, it can be comforting to know that the vast majority of those going through divorce do reach the light at the end of the tunnel and are able to move on.

Sharing On Twitter Could Hurt Your WA Divorce Case

mbk@mollybkenny.com (Blog Author)29517 — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST

You may have heard that social networking sites like Twitter, MySpace, and Facebook have been problems for those seeking jobs or applying to schools – but did you know that revealing too much information on the internet could be harmful to your divorce case or child custody case in Washington State?

As even middle-aged computer users are becoming social networking-savvy, divorce lawyers and child custody lawyers are looking for more evidence on the internet when it comes to court. Even one status update, “Tweet,” or uploaded picture could spell trouble. A social networking site could prove that a partner was cheating, that a partner has been using alcohol or drugs, or that a partner did not provide appropriate care for a child.
What is the main lesson for those involved in a divorce or child custody case that spend time on the internet? Check all of your privacy settings – or better yet, find a less public way to share your life with others.

Snohomish County's "Home For Good" Shelters Victims of Spousal Abuse

mbk@mollybkenny.com (Blog Author)29516 — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST

All too often, formally abused spouses who are recently divorced struggle with poverty, homelessness, and unemployment. At the same time, there are an untold number of Washington men and women who would divorce their abusive partners if they only had a safe place to go afterward.

Snohomish County has taken a step to help these struggling families thought their program, “Home For Good,” a special pilot program which helps those suffering financial hardship through no fault of their own, such as those who are struggling to find a home in the wake of a divorce involving abuse. The program, which involved Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon, Project Phoenix, and the Federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program, recently offered five three-bedroom homes in Marysville to struggling families at affordable rental prices. Eventually, the homes will turn into affordable ownership opportunities for those living in them. Each of the homes cost an average of $225,000 and were purchased with low-interest loans.

Marysville, Washington, has been hit hard by the recent recession and many formally middle-class families in the area are struggling on the edge of homelessness.

Two Washington State Boys Taken By Father Violating Restraining Order

mbk@mollybkenny.com (Blog Author)29515 — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST

Child custody can be the most painful part of the divorce process – and this was certainly illustrated in Tacoma this week when two young boys, aged four and five, were abducted from their mother’s home by their father.

Pierce County Sheriff's Department issued an Amber alert after Reuben and Dylan Fish were taken from their Fort Lewis home by Allen Fish. Fish and his wife were allegedly divorcing and struggling with child custody rights at the time of the abduction – and some reports say that the mother of the boys had a restraining order against their father at the time that the boys were taken from their home in Joint Base Lewis McChord. Other reports say that the Allen Fish has a history of domestic violence.

The man is reported to have taken his sons to an attorney’s office across state lines, but the children have now been reunited with their mother.

Seattle-Produced Domestic Violence Documentary Plays At Seattle Center

mbk@mollybkenny.com (Blog Author)29514 — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST

Seattle Center's McCaw Hall hosted a free showing of a documentary focused on domestic violence in Washington State – a film that was produced by a Seattle man, created by a Washington domestic abuse nonprofit organization, and features King County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Gary Ernsdorff and Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna

Shout. The Story of Domestic Violence examines the complex issue of domestic violence in Washington State, lending the viewpoints of abuse victims, WA police, King County lawmakers, counselors, and shelter workers. The Seattle man who produced the film lost a sister to a domestic violence murder-suicide almost a decade ago and hopes the film will spread awareness.

The free screening was also made possible by the Domestic Abuse Women’s Network (DAWN), a nonprofit located in Tukwila, Washington, and Session 7 Media of Seattle. Those interested in purchasing a DVD of the domestic violence documentary may contact DAWN.

Spokesman-Review: Sexual Assault Underreported

mbk@mollybkenny.com (Blog Author)28865 — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST

Especially on college campuses, sexual assault, domestic abuse, and rape can be significantly underreported. While counseling services and other assistance programs see large numbers of women seeking help in the wake of sexual abuse, college campuses and Universities in Washington State report much lower numbers of sexual abuse and domestic violence.

While a federal law called the Clery Act requires schools to report sexual abuse cases, Melissa Tumas, director of the Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence Information Center at the University of Washington, explains that sexual assault instances are only officially reported if the women decides to press chargers or have a school hearing. While some school officials are required by law to report abuse, others, like counselors, don’t have to.

Though the University of Washington reported just three cases of sexual assault last year, Tumas says she handles 160 cases a year regarding stalking, domestic violence, and sexual assault.

Seattle Times: Are Ex-Stepchildren Still Considered Family?

mbk@mollybkenny.com (Blog Author)28096 — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST

This week the Seattle Times answered an interesting question sent in by a reader: is it appropriate to continue a relationship with your stepchildren even after you have settled your Seattle divorce? While the question is not legal in scope, it does ask an important, emotional question that many going through Washington State divorces might ask.

The etiquette experts who answer the question for Seattle Times readers make a strong point: it is perfectly natural and understandable to want to continue to have a relationship with your step-kids even after your romantic relationship with their mother or father has ended. Even though the family is now separating, it was a family and you were probably an important adult in their lives for a number of years. If you want to keep contact with the children, let your wishes be heard, both by your former spouse and your Seattle divorce attorney.

Retired Seattle Policeman Charged With Killing Estranged Wife

mbk@mollybkenny.com (Blog Author)27274 — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

A woman was returning to her former home to collect belongings when her former husband shot her and then himself. The week before, the man had requested a restraining order saying requesting that his ex-wife not be allowed back to the couple’s large home in a gated community.

Police say that the retired Seattle Police officer, 59-year-old Ted Richardson, shot his estranged wife, 52-year-old Susan Richardson, and then himself. A friend of Susan’s waited outside in the driveway during the shooting and called 911 when she heard shots fired. She told authorities that a fight had broken out after Susan had entered the house to get her things.

This was the second marriage for both parties and they did not have children together though they both had children from previous marriages. The handgun used in the crime was owned by Ted and kept in the house. The couple had been separated for several months after Ted had filed for divorce.

Study: States With Same-Sex Marriage Bans Also Have Higher Divorce Rates

mbk@mollybkenny.com (Blog Author)26687 — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

Could Washington have a lower divorce rate because of the state's same-sex union laws? A new study says yes. Nate Silver has analyzed years of data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and found that over the last five years, states that have instituted a constitutional ban on same-sex marriages have a divorce rate 8 percent higher than states that do not have constitutional bans.

In addition, Massachusetts, the state with the lowest divorce rate nationally, also allows gays to legally marry, while the next three states with the lowest divorce rates do not have constitutional amendments stating that marriage is between a man and a woman.

Silver admits that the pattern shows correlation but not causation – the differences may be caused by other aspects that often separate these states, such as economy, religion, politics, and culture. However, the study is interesting in that it may take away from the argument that gay marriages somehow devalue heterosexual marriages.

Seattle Temporary Housing Options for Domestic Violence Victims

mbk@mollybkenny.com (Blog Author)25892 — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

Once you make the courageous decision to leave an abusive spouse or partner, it can be overwhelming. You may not know where to turn for help or where you and your children will live. The City of Seattle has programs to help survivors of domestic violence get back on their feet and put together a plan of action.

The City of Seattle has various housing options, including enriched housing, temporary hotel stays and transitional housing. Enriched housing is a short-term answer for women and children with nowhere else to go. Domestic violence advocates are available at these homes to help with creating a safety plan and securing long-term housing.

Sometimes a domestic violence victim has to get out of her house quickly, which is why hotel vouchers are offered through the city. Victims can stay up to 2 weeks in a hotel, while they determine where they will live.

Transitional housing is the solution for women who can’t locate affordable housing, but can’t return home due to safety concerns. Women and children can stay for up to two years in these homes.

You are not alone. A Seattle domestic violence lawyer from the Law Offices of Molly B. Kenny can help you. Contact the law firm at (206) 381-0100 for more information.

What's the Difference Between Annulment and Divorce?

mindy@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)25840 — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

When you are looking at the end of your marriage, you probably have a lot of questions. You are at the point where you know that you will not be able to reconcile, but you don’t know your best option. Many couples are confused regarding the differences between annulment and divorce. Both processes will end a marriage in Washington, but they are not the same.

An annulment is a legal procedure that dissolves a marriage. If a marriage is annulled, it means that it is nullified from its inception. An annulment applies when there is some legal defect that keeps the marriage from being valid.

Most people are already familiar with the legal process known as divorce. With a divorce, the marriage is terminated because it has been deemed “irretrievably broken.” Either spouse can pursue this legal option to end the marriage. During the divorce process, family support, child custody and the allocation of assets and liabilities will be determined.

If you have chosen to purse a divorce or annulment, you should contact a Seattle divorce lawyer at the Law Offices of Molly B. Kenny at (206) 381-0100. The law firm will be able to walk you through the process and ensure that your interests are protected. The divorce attorneys at the law firm make children a priority.

For more information on this topic, read the article, Three Ways Marriages Are Ended in Washington.

Women Rarely Turn To Their Fathers For Divorce Support – But Why?

blog@www.mollybkenny.com (News Author)16184 — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 08:00:00 EST

This month the Wall Street Journal published a feature article that centered on adult women and their relationships with their fathers – a topic that many don’t stop to examine. However, when one woman was going through a divorce, she realized that she was relying on her mother for emotional support, but not her father.

Some women interviewed claimed that their mothers were simply easier to talk to when it came to divorces and tough emotions. Others said that they didn’t know how to begin a conversation about their personal lives with sometimes distant fathers, while still others said that they feared that speaking about divorce with their fathers might make them sad or upset. Fathers responded that after being used to protecting their daughters from the world, hearing about divorce made them feel like they had failed, or that they couldn’t make the situation better. However, most dads agreed that they would like to help their child through their divorce in whatever way possible.

Relationship experts believe that although sons understand how to best communicate with their fathers, women and men might approach conversations differently, with men looking for immediate solutions and women looking for a friendly and understanding ear. Some fathers have found it easier to communicate through writing or even poetry, while others simply needed to realize the differences in communication and work from there.

The expert’s advice? Start talking to each other – perhaps first about everyday topics – and then slowly toward more emotional topics. It always helps to have another loved one to talk to during tough times.

Washington Man Loses Custody Of Children Over Medical Pot Use

blog@www.mollybkenny.com (News Author)15936 — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 08:00:00 EST

Did you know that your Washington State child custody case could suffer just because you take a prescribed drug for medical reasons? Unfortunately, when the drug you are taking is medical marijuana, you can lose child visitation rights even though you aren’t breaking the law.

This very thing happened to Washington State resident Nicholas Pouch, who can’t have his children visit his idyllic 20-acre farm in Matlock. The reason? His ex-wife brought up his medical marijuana past with their child custody judge. Now, even though he was never charged as a criminal, Pouch only sees his children twice a month, supervised and in a neutral location.

Even though Washington laws say that medical marijuana users should not be penalized “or denied any right or privilege,” many are facing tough critics when it comes to child custody and child visitation cases. Some say that the decisions are correct, and that children should not be exposed to pot smoking, but others say that medical marijuana shouldn’t be seen as different from other prescription drugs.

Many judges wonder a parent who is under the influence of marijuana is capable of safely parenting a child, though others bring up parents who watch children even while on powerful painkillers. However, marijuana is still illegal under federal law.

At this point, Washington judges are coming to different decisions regarding the matter – while one judge as awarded visitation rights as long as another adult is present, another ruled that a father can’t be within a quarter-mile of his sons, despite his otherwise acceptable past as a caring father.

Seattle's Love Lab: Can Marriage Education Prevent Divorce?

blog@www.mollybkenny.com (News Author)15935 — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 08:00:00 EST

What would the world be like if we could accurately predict if a relationship would end in divorce? At the Gottman Relationship Institute in Seattle – also know as the Love Lab – scientists, psychologists, and therapists have been working for decades to answer that question.

Through years of observing couples – both couples in successful marriages and couples that end their relationship with divorce – John Gottman and his researchers say they can now predict whether or not a marriage will last with a 90 percent accuracy rate. He uses that information to help teach couples how to better communicate, both through workshops and books.

According to a recent article in the Washington Post, marriage education may be the next step for couples trying to make their relationships last. The government is even giving some couples – like those with one or more spouse in the armed services – free workshops to keep marriages strong. Much of the research shows that marriages don’t end because of stress, money, or other irreconcilable differences (they have found that all marriages include irreconcilable differences), marriages end because couples do not know how to properly argue with each other, which can lead to contempt and resentment.

Two suggestions Gottman has for all couples? Empathy – putting yourself in your partner’s shoes – and parroting – repeating how your partner feels about an issue back to your partner, and vice versa, until you both understand the other’s thoughts.

Seattle Dad Gives Advice About Making Shared Child Custody Work

blog@www.mollybkenny.com (News Author)15617 — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 08:00:00 EST

This week in USA Today, a feature story explored how dads who don’t live with their kids year-round can continue to be involved with their children’s lives even after a painful divorce and even if they only have partial custody.

One of the fathers profiled in the piece and about divorce, dads, and child custody was 45-year-old Seattle father Jim Lapan. Lapan was married for 13 years but go divorced three years ago. The couple shares custody of their 11-year-old son, who spends weeknight with one parent and weeknights with the other, alternating each month. While the couple’s relationship no longer worked romantically, Lapan says that he and his ex-wife work hard together to successfully parent their son. What is the most important aspect of their ongoing parenting relationship? Communication. They make sure that discipline is consistent, along with the rest of the boy’s care.

Other fathers in the piece thought of creative ways to keep in touch with their children after a divorce and despite distance – one father sent his ex-wife pre-paid envelopes that she would fill with his children’s art projects, notes, and school accomplishments. Others are taking advantage of new technology, such as text messages, video chat, and cell phone calls.

The general trend is encouraging – many more dads today truly want to continue good, lasting relationships with their children after divorce than just a few decades ago. And a few creative ideas and leaps in technology make it easier for dads to keep in contact even if partial custody, limited visitation, and geography get in the way.

Study: Parents With Autistic Kids Not More Likely To Divorce

blog@www.mollybkenny.com (News Author)15586 — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 08:00:00 EST

A study conducted by the Center for Autism and Related Disorders at the Kennedy Krieger Institute has determined that the parents of autistic children are no more likely to divorce than those with unaffected children. This new study breaks the long-held belief that parents with children who suffer from autism spectrum disorders are almost certainly doomed to divorce following a diagnosis. In fact, the well-circulated statistic that 80 percent of couple with autistic children divorce is no more than an urban legend.

The new poll, which will be presented at the International Meeting for Autism Research this week, surveyed 77,911 families around the country with children 17 years of age and younger. While 64 percent of children with autism were being raised by two parents, 65 percent of children without autism were raised in two-parent households. The difference was not statistically significant.

Many believed that an autism diagnosis puts a large strain on marriages – children with autism often need large amounts of attention and time, while raising a child with autism is significantly more expensive than other children. The behavioral problems that are often associated with autism can cause large amounts of stress in a family, while parents may also disagree on treatment options and other decisions.

The man who conducted the autism and divorce study, Brian Freedman, is going to continue to research the subject, this time in hopes of determining what factors and strategies are used in the families that are able to successfully stay together in the face of the challenge of an autism diagnosis.

What Increases Your Chances Of Divorce? Researchers Chime In.

blog@www.mollybkenny.com (News Author)15585 — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 08:00:00 EST

Ever wonder if scientists could have predicted your divorce before you were even married? In a new book, For Better or Worse: The Science of a Good Marriage, author Tara Parker-Hope explores the research conducted to date regarding reasons for divorce, successful marriages, and indicators of relationships that work. While the divorce rate continues to fall in Washington State, and while parents are getting better and better at choosing a lifemate, there is still much we don’t know about what creates a working marriage and what leads to divorce.

Here are a few facts and figures that we do know:

•    The current divorce rate in the United States is about 45 percent – the lowest it has been since the 1970s.
•    Red states have higher divorce rates than blue states, possibly because these states have cultures that includes marriage at a younger age.
•    If your parents are divorced, you are 40 percent more likely to go through a divorce yourself. If your parents remarried, you are over 90 percent more likely to go through a divorce.
•    If you have been divorced before, you have a 90 percent higher chance of becoming divorced again in the future.
•    Families with daughters are slightly more at risk for divorce than families with sons.
•    Couples in which the women is three or more years older have a 50 percent higher chance of divorce than couples in which the woman is only one year older or in which the man is up to three years older.
•    Couples tested as having below average intelligence are 50 percent more likely to get divorced than couple who tested as having above average intelligence.
•    If you have twins or multiple births, your marriage is 17 percent more likely to end in divorce.

Seattle Man Forced Pregnant Girlfriend To Sign "Abuse Contract"

blog@www.mollybkenny.com (News Author)15584 — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 08:00:00 EST

A man is in King County jail held on $100,000 bail after Seattle Police say he assaulted his pregnant teen girlfriend twice. According to the Seattle Times, 31-year-old Graydon Smith was arrested on domestic abuse charges against his 19-year-old pregnant girlfriend.

In an odd twist to this sad domestic violence news story, it was revealed that Smith had his girlfriend sign an “abuse contract” that permitted him to physically strike his girlfriend whenever he pleased as long as he did not hit her in her pregnant belly.

In April, Seattle Police received a call from the abuse victim from their Haller Lake home, in which the young women told authorities that her boyfriend had threatened to kill her and that he had beat her in the past. Weeks later, Smith’s stepfather called Washington Police to the home a second time, this time after the stepfather reported that Smith was choking his girlfriend. When police arrived, they found that the girl had indeed been choked and was also bleeding from her head as the results of the same domestic abuse incident. In addition she had bruising on the back of her head. During that day of domestic violence, the stepfather was also punched by his stepson.

Smith is denying that he hit or hurt his pregnant girlfriend, though he did admit to reporters that he made his girlfriend sign a document permitting violence against her.

Seattle Seahawks Player Leroy Hill Gets Domestic Violence Court Date

blog@www.mollybkenny.com (News Author)15583 — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 08:00:00 EST

Following a Seattle domestic violence charge in April against his live-in girlfriend, Seattle Seahawks player Leroy Hill now has a Washington State court date set for July. At the same time, the NFL football player was also seen at Seahawks practice for the first time since his arrest on April 10.

The starting linebacker for the pro football team was arrested in the spring and charged with misdemeanor assault during domestic violence. The incident took place at the couple’s Issaquah home in the Talus Community – Washington police say that when they arrived on the scene, the yet-to-be-identified woman had visible marked on her body that suggested domestic violence. Just days before the domestic abuse incident, Hill was arrested on a marijuana possession charge.

The next court appearance that Hill will make is for a July 24 pretrial hearing in which persecutors will determine if there is enough evidence to continue with the domestic violence and assault trial and set a date. King County prosecutor told reporters that she believes that there is indeed enough evidence to convict the football players. If the trial does occur, it would probably take place within a week of the pretrial hearing – perhaps at the end of July or the beginning of August.

According to Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, the team is ready to welcome Hill back to the playing field after consulting with the NFL and receiving positive feedback about allowing Hill to return to practices.

King County Man Convicted Of Murdering Seattle Ex-Wife

blog@www.mollybkenny.com (News Author)14712 — Sun, 16 May 2010 08:00:00 EST

A deadly instance of domestic violence in Seattle has ended in the conviction of an abusive husband. The Seattle Post-Intellegencer reports that Washington State resident Jose Angel Blanco was found guilty of murder with a deadly weapon after a King County jury deliberated for 90 minutes regarding the evidence.

Blanco was found guilty of stabbing his ex-wife, Seattle resident Noemi L. Lopez, 58 times with a knife on November 30, 2008. Although the pair had been divorced for over a year, Blanco had allegedly said that he would kill his ex-wife if she ever began dating anyone new. In addition, the man had sent a text message to his ex-wife’s brother telling him that if the rumors that Lopez were dating again were true, he would “take care of [her].”

On the day of the domestic violence incident, Blanco called his 15-year-old daughter to warn her not to go home so as not to discover her mother’s body. After fleeing the murder scene, he left two notes admitting the crime at his girlfriend’s house. In one of the notes, he said that he told his victim, “I got more power than you.”

While he initially fled the country for his native Mexico, Blanco turned himself in two weeks later to Seattle Police at the Sea-Tac Airport. A Washington detective was able to persuade him to return after speaking to him over the phone.

Blanco will be sentence later this spring – he faces 22 to 29 years in prison for his domestic violence murder.

Kitsap Woman Gets Finances In Order After Divorce

blog@www.mollybkenny.com (News Author)14692 — Sat, 15 May 2010 08:00:00 EST

The Money Makeover column in the April 10 edition of the Seattle Times dealt with a common problem for those going through a Washington State divorce: getting back on your feet after a financially stressful divorce.

The column focused on 30-year-old Kitsap resident Renee Hernandez, a woman who found herself in an utterly new and very depressing financial situation in the wake of her WA divorce. After her marriage, Hernandez found that she and her husband didn’t have much in common when it came to money matters – while Hernandez was a spendthrift, her husband led her into a more extravagant lifestyle that left her more than $300,000 in debt by the time her Washington divorce was finalized last year.

Although Hernandez struggled to keep up with her payments by starting a second job, taking on renters, and pinching pennies, she finally gave in and declared bankruptcy to rid herself of much of her old debt – and get a start on her new life.

Ken Smith, chief executive officer at Empirical Wealth Management in Seattle, helped Hernandez further by helping her make a plan to save for retirement, rebuild her credit, and pay off her student loans.

Hernandez learned, like so many others, that a marriage to someone with different financial values and philosophies can be difficult – and recovering from a divorce fraught with past money woes can be even tougher. However, smart money management and a new start can often help you get back on your feet and allow you to find the happiness and control that you were looking for.

Seattle Seahawk Player Leroy Hill Accused Of Domestic Violence

blog@www.mollybkenny.com (News Author)14691 — Fri, 14 May 2010 08:00:00 EST

Seattle Seahawks line backer Leroy Hill has been charged with fourth-degree assault, domestic violence, following a Saturday night arrest in Issaquah's Talus Community by Washington Police.

According to officers responding to the scene, NFL football player Hill and his girlfriend had been fighting and his girlfriend had obvious marks on her that indicated a physical assault had taken place. The woman, who has not been identified, confirmed that Hill had harmed her during the domestic dispute. Officers could not say what the domestic violence incident regarded or what the initial fight was about.

The seriousness of the women’s injuries is not known and the investigation is ongoing.

Hill has a history with the law – he was arrested this year for marijuana possession. The Seattle Seahawks general manager released a statement stating that he took Hill’s behavior and domestic violence charges very seriously – at the same time, Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll has asked Hill not to attend the NFL football team’s off-season mini-camps out of fear that he would be a distraction to the team. Hill is awaiting disciplinary action from the NFL, which could likely include a suspension during the regular season.

For his marijuana possession charge, Hill agreed to 30 hours of community service and attendance at a drug and alcohol counseling program.

The Seattle Seahawks drafted Hill in 2005, but made him a free agent in 2009 after drafting a highly sought-after linebacker. However, he was re-signed to the team on Aril 30 for a six-year run and 38 million dollars.

Kent Domestic Violence Shelter Safe Havens Suffers Funding Issues

blog@www.mollybkenny.com (News Author)14689 — Thu, 13 May 2010 08:00:00 EST

A Kent, Washington, organization that helps the survivors of domestic violence may have to close its doors due to funding woes – perhaps as early as this weekend. The organization, Safe Haven, which relies heavily on federal funding and donations, gives domestic violence survivors and their partners a safe place in which to conduct child visitations.

In many cases, domestic violence victims are at risk for further harm after the relationship is over – and can often occur when children are exchanged or visitations take place. This center minimizes the risk that parents take when allowing their ex-spouse to visit with their children if there is a protection order or restraining order on one of the partners.

Tracee Parker, the Program Director at Safe Havens, recalled one Seattle visitation event that took place in 1998. After the father dropped the child off in the parking lot, he approached his ex-wife and shot her four times. She was killed and so was her child, who was hit by a stray bullet while sitting in the back seat.

Safe Haven has special practices that allow children to see both of their parents without putting anyone in danger. The organization, which is funded partially through a federal grant, charges families between $2 and $5 per visit, making safe visitations affordable for most any family.

Now, the city of Kent, Washington is asking for a plan from the domestic violence support group, who say they are looking for donations and funding in order to keep their doors open even until the weekend.

Study: Marital Discord Is Bad For Your Health

blog@www.mollybkenny.com (News Author)14688 — Wed, 12 May 2010 08:00:00 EST

Studies going back for hundreds of years have established that being married can lead to a longer, healthier life – a life with lower rates of cancer, surgery, heart disease, dementia, and pneumonia. However, newer and better studies have found that having a healthier and happier life is not as easy as simply getting hitched; in fact, gaining the benefits of marriage necessitates a happy, working marriage, not just any marriage. Not only will a contentious or troubled marriage erase the benefits of a stable marriage, these new studies have found that a stressed marriage can harm one’s health significantly.

In one study, scientists and psychologists have found that there is a deep connection between a person’s immune system and their stress and mental health state. The results were conclusive: women who were either unhappily married or still struggling with divorce had low white blood cell counts (weakened immune systems) while women who were in happy marriages or happily single had higher white blood cell counts. Another study found that even a fight between husband and wife will lower the immune system’s strength over the next day.

Others studies have found that staying in a bad marriage can lead to stress hormones, depression, mood swings, a weakened immune system, increased chances of developing diabetes, chronic illness outbreaks, and an increased chance of heart disease.

The bottom line, researchers say, is that while it is important to work through the issues in your relationship and solve your problems, it is not always better for your physical health to stay married in the long run.

Women With Domestic Violence History Working In Washington Schools

blog@www.mollybkenny.com (News Author)13998 — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST

Could your child be attending a Washington State school that employs felons with a history of domestic violence convictions? Legally, they could be, says Grandview School District Superintendent Kevin Chase, who has been defending the hiring of a woman with a history of domestic abuse charges against her child.

The school hired Karen Ott, a Yakima woman who spent six months in jail for a Class B felony – second-degree assault and domestic violence. The woman was charged and convicted of hitting her son with a belt until he was hospitalized at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Now, however, she has served her time and is working in a clerical position in the Grandview School District in Yakima.

Certified employees at schools cannot have criminal felonies on their records, but other employees, like secretaries, can have domestic violence charges and still be considered. But while Ott’s supporters say that she doesn’t have direct contact with students, others say that she has had some interactions with children, such as escorting a child to the bus.

The Superintendent of the school says that Ott was the most qualified applicant for the position, and that she deserves a second chance. He also said that Ott disclosed her criminal history of domestic violence with the hiring committee and that they were comfortable with hiring her despite her past. He also notes that since she has been hired, she has been a hard worker and an ideal employee. Others close to the family say that the current drama is being overplayed because Ott is in the middle of a child custody dispute.

Study: Parents Are Spending More Time With Their Children

blog@www.mollybkenny.com (News Author)14012 — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST

Washington State child custody cases and visitation rights cases are all about deciding who get to spend time – and when – with your children. But how much time does the average parent spend actively caring for their children? A new study shows that both mothers and fathers are spending more time with their children than ever – but that amount of time still isn’t as much as you might think.

According to a new study release by the University of Oxford, which followed thousands of families beginning in 1975 and ending in 2000, moms and dads are putting in more quality time at home despite some of the stereotypes of our modern times. While mothers in 1975 spent an average of 8 to 21 minutes with their children per day, mothers in 2000 clocked 51 to 86 minutes of childcare.

Fathers have also upped the time spent caring and playing with their children. In 1975, the average father would spend three to eight minutes with their child each day, compared with 32 to 36 minutes each day in 2000. This change makes sense considering that mothers are now more likely to work, while fathers are more likely to be equal parents.

While these new numbers are encouraging, they also make us realize that just a few minutes of quality time per day can be meaningful to a child – and those few minutes are the norm for children in Washington State today.

New Study: Miscarriages And Stillbirth Can Increase Chances Of Divorce

blog@www.mollybkenny.com (News Author)13896 — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST

You might have heard that money problems, affairs, or irreconcilable differences can lead to divorce in Washington State – but what about losing a baby? According to a new study conducted by the University of Michigan Medical School and published in the journal Pediatrics, married couples are significantly more likely to divorce if they have experienced a miscarriage or stillbirth.

Specifically, the study found that couples who experienced the death of after the 20-week mark, during labor, or soon after labor were 40 percent more likely to divorce after the incident, while those who suffer a miscarriage are 22 percent more likely to separate. The study followed 7,700 couples over a 15-year span. While a large percentage of couples whose marriage did not survive the loss of a baby separated within three years, it was found that the death of a baby or a pregnancy loss could affect a marriage even ten years down the road.

Researchers say that many of the couples were already experiencing relationship problems and the experience of a pregnancy loss simply pushed them over the edge. Other couples struggle after one partner takes the loss in a different way than the other – or when one can’t understand the way the other has chosen to mourn. While some couples were brought closer together by tragedy, others simply couldn’t continue their relationship.

Those who conducted this study say that simply knowing that the loss of a baby can threaten your marriage could help those going through the process recognize that they may need extra counseling, respect each other’s differences, and ask each other for support.

Judges Discuss International Family Relocation In Washington

blog@www.mollybkenny.com (News Author)13895 — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST

The world is growing smaller in a number of ways – and unfortunately that means that divorce is getting more complicated for those who live internationally or travel extensively. In fact, a number of country are recognizing that child custody battles involving parents located in different countries or continents present big problems when it comes to making the best choices for the children involved.

To help address the problem of international family relocation, more than 50 judges from around the world gathered to discuss the legal challenge that takes place when thousands of miles impede attempts at joint custody and visitation rights. The result of the meeting was the "Washington Declaration on International Family Relocation,” a document that outlines 13 different recommendations for the judges to bring to their home countries.

The meeting was coordinated in part by International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children, who said that international moves that take place after divorce are becoming more common each day – and that the moves often cause heartache and loss for both the parents and children. The judges hoped that the conference would help to standardize the process of how these cases are examined and decided.

The 13 points regarding international family are general, but lay a sensible framework that judges can work with when confronted with these situations. For example, the declaration puts forth that the best interests of the child should always be the primary consideration and that reasonable notice should be given to the parents left behind in the move. In addition, as with any relocation agreement, the judge should consider the child’s age, reasons for relocation, current custody agreement, employment, and history of family abuse.

Tacoma Man Convicted Of Killing Estranged Wife And Stepdaughter

blog@www.mollybkenny.com (News Author)13894 — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST

Tacoma, Washington, was the setting for a tragic example of domestic violence – a man going through a divorce committed the double murder of his wife and stepdaughter as he struggled to cope with the end of his marriage.

According to court reports, 53-year-old Charles W. Nettlebeck killed his wife, 52-year-old Barbara Joe Nettlebeck, and his stepdaughter, 33-year-old Joan Hawkins with an ax at his wife’s residence. The double murder occurred in March of 2009 after Charles went to his former home to help with a yard sale. After an argument, the man decapitated his wife and then mauled his stepdaughter. Three hours later, following an attempt to hang himself, the man called 911 and reported what he had done. His wife was pronounced dead at the scene of the crime while his stepdaughter died of her injuries a few hours later at the hospital.

At the time of the domestic violence murder, Barbara had a protective order against her husband and had filed for divorce. It is not clear whether he was invited to the house on the day of the yard sale. It is also not clear whether the man had a history of domestic abuse or violence against his wife and family.

This week a Tacoma jury found the man guilty on two counts of aggravated first-degree murder. Sentencing will take place next month. Prosecutors will not pursue the death penalty because of Nettlebeck’s long history of mental illness that could have contributed to his actions.

Seattle Church Couples Counseling Session Leads To Domestic Violence

blog@www.mollybkenny.com (News Author)13719 — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST

A man fatally shot his ex-wife during a church counseling session, the Seattle Times reports. Last week, 42-year-old Charles "Chuck" Parson attended a couple’s therapy session at the Calvary Lutheran Church in Federal Way with his ex-wife, 38-year-old Carol Parsons. During the session, the therapist said that Chuck Parsons got up from his chair as if he were going to leave, but pulled a handgun and shot his separated wife at least three times. After the shooting, the man called 911 and turned himself in to police.

The couple, who has three young children, had been going through a divorce for the last year, though Chuck Parsons wanted to work things out with his wife and was extremely upset over the separation. Carol Parsons believed that counseling would help him find closure and better understand the situation.

Chuck Parson had no history of domestic violence or other criminal charges, though Carol’s sister said that during the marriage he could often be possessive and controlling, calling Carol obsessively and checking in with her. While he had not been physically abusive, it is not clear if there had been verbal or emotional abuse in the past. They had been married for 12 years.

Chuck Parsons, who is from Lakewood, is now in jail with a bail of $5 million due to his high flight risk. His defense attorney described him as extremely emotionally upset. The children of the couple are staying with relatives in the wake of this tragic crime.

Bremerton Volunteers Collect Jewelry For Domestic Abuse Victims

blog@www.mollybkenny.com (News Author)13718 — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST

In many cases, domestic abuse victims need more than shelters and counseling – they need to feel a little sparkle. To help women regain themselves and life fuller lives in the wake of domestic abuse, the Kitsap Women’s Shelter Jewelry Project collects and distributes used pieces to the women who need them most.

Jane Martin, a local jewelry maker herself, started the domestic abuse victim jewelry project after hearing about a similar project in Seattle, in which used and donated rings, bracelets, and necklaces were assessed, cleaned, fixed, and given to women who may not have another opportunity to find such pieces themselves. The jewelry is collected in boxes in local businesses around Bremerton and then distributed – while some women are able to give jewelry they don’t wear to a good cause, other women are given a chance to own an item that she otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford.

Some of the domestic abuse victims who are recipients of the jewelry say they had to leave behind everything when they escape their violent living situations – including their jewelry boxes. Others say that their abusers never gave them gifts. Still others say that their only piece of jewelry, their wedding ring, represents an unhealthy time in their lives.

Even the jewelry that isn’t good enough to give to the shelter women is used – some is recycled for parts while some is given to local art students. Some more expensive pieces are sold, with the proceeds going to support job training classes for the domestic abuse victims.

Living Together Before Marriage Doesn't Lead To Divorce In Seattle

blog@www.mollybkenny.com (News Author)13717 — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST

Traditionally, a couple should share a home before they tie the knot – but is there a reason for this rule to exist? While many perpetuate the myth that living together before marriage will lead to divorce, a new study shows that whether or not a couple chooses to cohabitate before taking their vows doesn’t have a significant impact on the fate or success of the marriage.

A new study released by the National Center for Health Statistics and based on the National Survey of Family Growth conducted in 2002 shows that while couples who don’t live together before they are engaged or married have a slightly better chance of staying married, living together before the wedding day does not significantly hurt your chances at happiness.

Out of the 13,000 people surveyed, 65 percent of women were married successfully for ten years, while 66 percent of women who waited to live with their husbands lasted a decade without divorce. For me, 69 percent lasted ten years married while 71 percent lasted ten years married after waiting to move in with their partner. Generally, an unmarried couple who lives together but never makes it official has a 55 percent chance of staying together for ten years.

While the differences between couples who live together before marriage and couples who wait are very slim, all couples who marry have an advantage over those who move in but don’t make vows. This adds weight to the importance of defining a relationship and making official plans for the future. In the end, making a commitment remains to be a more important step than sharing rent or a mortgage.

Washington Post: Recession Means Couples Waiting To Divorce

blog@www.mollybkenny.com (News Author)13622 — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST

The recession has caused Washington house prices to plummet, bankruptcy rates to skyrocket, and unemployment rates to rise. But how has the recent problems with the economy affected divorce rates? According to the Washington Post, divorce rates fell significantly in 2008 – not because fewer couples wanted to end their relationships, but because fewer couples could afford to get divorced.

Is divorce a luxury? In some cases, couples have put off ending their relationships to focus on paying their mortgage or getting their kids to college. Many with strained finances are opting to live on separate floors and wait a year or two before legally severing their tie. Many law offices report that one out of four couples are living together as they wait for their divorce to go through in order to save money.

In 2008, there were 20,000 fewer divorces, with only 838,000 divorce cases in court. While the tough economy should increase the number of divorces – financial strain and money problems are the number one cause for divorce – the rate of divorces has decreased. Many states require months or a year of separation before a divorce, which can be a considerable financial strain. However, some experts say that many families may be putting differences aside in order to fight together against hard times, upside-down mortgages, and layoffs.

This pattern reflects a similar pattern seen during the Great Depression: divorce rates fell during hard times and then increased as the country recovered. For now, divorces may be “backlogged” until better times.

Seattle Seahawks Consider Brandon Marshall's Domestic Abuse History

blog@www.mollybkenny.com (News Author)13364 — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST

Many of those charged with domestic violence in Seattle wonder if and how these charges might affect their chances of future employment. While an isolated case may or may not have long-term repercussions on your career, chronic, repeated offenses backed up my evidence could seriously harm your reputation – and NFL player Brandon Marshall is a prime example.

The Seattle Seahawks are looking forward to a better upcoming NFL football season – and they are in dire need of a strong, talented receiver. However, as the team considers taking on receiver Brandon Marshall, many are concerned with his history of domestic violence. Marshall allegedly abused his first girlfriend, Rasheedah Watley, who shared her story on ESPN’s Outside the Lines. Watley described a number of violent and abusive incidents – incidents that are backed up with police reports and photographic evidence of her injuries.

Later, Marshall and his fiancée Michi Leshase Nogami-Campbell were involved in a domestic dispute that Marshall’s former NFL team swept under the rug.

Now the Seattle Seahawks are wondering if they should ignore the past charges and give the player a new chance – they even invited him to Seattle for a weekend visit. However, many believe that Marshall’s apparent history of violence and abuse will do nothing for the team’s image or the team itself. While the former manager of the Seattle Seahawks tried hard to keep men of character on his team, sports fans are unsure whether this trend will continue, especially as Seattle looks for a winning team.

US Divorce Rate At Lowest Since 1970

blog@www.mollybkenny.com (News Author)13161 — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

When you think about celebrity marriages, political scandals involving adultery, and other aspects of today’s society, you might think that divorce rates are rising every day. However, that is not nearly the case according to recent studies. In fact, divorce rates in America are at 40-year lows and near the rate of 1950’s-era marriages.

It is a misconception that half of all marriages end in divorce. Currently, about 68 percent of marriage last for at least ten years and those who are marrying today have an 80 percent chance of success. Why are the numbers so high right now? Many believe that people are waiting longer to get married and that more couples are getting pre-marital counseling. The highest rate of divorce are among those who married in the 1970s, perhaps because the women’s movement disrupted traditional ideas and the general idea of family.

While watching movies, reality TV, and gossip channels make cheating seem like a huge issue in marriages, adultery affects only one out of five marriages – and half of those marriages work through the cheating.

A few demographics have higher instances of divorce. Those who marry in their teens are more likely to get divorced. Those who are born-again Christians are more likely to get divorce. And those who live in the South are more likely to get divorced. Low divorce rates have been recorded for those with more education, those with agnostic backgrounds, and those who wait until their late 20s or early 30s to marry.

Seattle Affair Splits Cheryl and Ashley Cole; Lawyers Discuss Assets

blog@www.mollybkenny.com (News Author)13065 — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

After an alleged affair with a woman in Seattle, United Kingdom celebrity couple Cheryl and Ashley Cole have filed for divorce. Now many are speculating on the division of property for this high-powered couple who share millions in assets.

The high-profile couple married three-and-a-half years ago. Despite their individual fortunes, Cheryl said that she found the idea of a prenuptial agreement “disgusting,” because they would be together for the rest of their lives. Now, however, her decision to skip an agreement before marriage may cost her during the divorce.

Ashley, a musical artist and famous television personality in England separated from her husband this week after information surfaced regarding a Seattle, Washington, affair her soccer star husband allegedly had during a pre-season football game in the United States. The other woman, Ann Corbitt, went to the media after the short-lived relationship.

Many divorce lawyers are speculating on how their assets will be divided in the divorce settlement – a short marriage that does not involve children could mean both parties walk away keeping only what they had when they were wed. It may be that their attorneys will split the assets they earned as a couple during their marriage. Both have earned millions of pounds each during the marriage.

The couple jointly owns a mansion in Surrey worth an estimated 6 million pounds, though rumor says that Ashley is planning a move in the near future to Italy.

Serial Domestic Abuse Offender Found Guilty In King County

blog@www.mollybkenny.com (News Author)13038 — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

Most of those charged with domestic abuse do not have a long history of similar charges. But recently King County arrested and charged a serial domestic abuse offender after years of violence toward the women in his life.

The violence against his wife and the mother of his two children allegedly started in 2000, with a string of physical and emotional abuse even while she was pregnant. The woman put up with the abuse, not reporting it or else recanting her testimony, for several years before finally filing a complaint.

The man, Dion Earl Johnson, was featured on “Washington’s Most Wanted.” Not long after he was charged with five different felony violations of a domestic violence court order, felony domestic violence harassment, two counts of tampering with a witness, and bail jumping. The domestic violence assaults included a November 2008 incident at a doctor’s office when his wife was six months pregnant. A second assault took place at a bar in February of last year. During the latter assault, the man also threatened to kill the family’s children.

In addition to his felony charges, he was also found guilty of misdemeanors including violating a no-contact order and second-degree assault.

A King County Superior Court jury convicted him of all domestic violence charges this week. According to the Seattle Post Intelligencer, he is facing up to ten years in prison for his domestic abuse charges.

Seattle: Former Student-Teacher Romance Leads To Domestic Violence

blog@www.mollybkenny.com (News Author)12738 — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

A normal relationship between a student and middle school teacher in Seattle has turned into a troubled and abusive romantic relationship involving threats, extortion, and domestic violence. According to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, a 22-year-old man is being charged with second-degree extortion with a domestic violence enhancement after making threats to a former teacher.

Seattle Police say that the man, Jonathan Wendale Williams, became erratic and mentally unstable after a relationship ended with his former teacher, 47-year-old unnamed woman who teachers in Seattle Public Schools. According to court reports, the two did not see each other for years after their teacher-student relationship ended, but that Williams contacted her recently and they began dating. A few months later, in December 2009, the woman attempted to end their sexual relationship, sending Williams over the edge.

Allegedly, the young man began to harass the woman with hundreds of phone calls and at one point threatened to rape her and force her to have the baby. Finally, he began to threaten to contact the Seattle Public Schools Superintendent and falsely claim that she had molested him as a student. He also began to claim that he would release photographs of the couple kissing at the North Seattle Public School where she teaches. In the end, Williams told her that he would stop threatening her if she paid him $1,000.

In jail, Williams admitted that he only made the threats to get her attention and that their sexual relationship did not begin until he was a consenting adult.

Study: Link Between College Education And Divorce Rates

blog@www.mollybkenny.com (News Author)12711 — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

A new study reported in the Wall Street Journal has uncovered revealing information about the link between college educations and divorce rates. Betsey Stevenson and Adam Isen examined a number of surveys and data sets to determine the relationship between having a college degree and having a happy, lasting marriage.

What they found was surprising: while women and men who have finished college are most likely to stay married and to report happier marriages, the groups most likely to divorce within ten years are those who only had some college education. Those with only high school educations fell somewhere in the middle.

The authors of the study can only guess why these correlations are present, but said that it is likely that college-educated women are more likely to see marriage as a source of personal fulfillment and less as a means of economic stability. They also said that it may be that those who do not finish their college educations may have traits that don’t allow them to ride out rough or unhappy times in their marriages.

While studies have always found that men who receive college diplomas are happier and more successful in marriage, the fact that women with a college education also enter into healthier and happier relationships is a new trend that was not so pronounced 50 years ago. However, unlike 50 years ago, a college-educated woman is less likely to get married than those with only high school diplomas.

64 Percent of Violence Against Women is Considered Domestic Abuse

blog@www.mollybkenny.com (News Author)12492 — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

A past study by the National Institute of Justice and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, found that the majority of violence against women occurs from domestic abuse. The study, titled, the National Violence Against Women (NVAW) Survey, sampled both women and men.

Researchers found that 64 percent of the women included in the study reported being raped, physically assaulted and/or stalked by a current or former boyfriend, spouse or cohabiting partner.

In general, women experience more domestic violence than men. The survey reported that 22.1 percent of the women responded that a current or former spouse or partner had physically assaulted them. Only 7.4 percent of men responded that they had been victimized by domestic abuse. A little over one percent of female survey respondents said that they had experienced such violence within the previous 12 months.

The study also reported that 1.9 million women and 3.2 million men are physically assaulted every year in the United States. Even though more men are the victims of assault, women are at a significantly higher risk of being injured during such an assault.

If you have been the victim of domestic violence in Washington State, including King County or Snohomish County, contact a Mercer Island domestic violence attorney at the Law Offices of Molly B. Kenny at (206) 381-0100.

Former Presidential Candidate John Edwards Quietly Separated from Wife

blog@www.mollybkenny.com (News Author)12489 — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

A report by People magazine stated that former Democratic presidential candidate, John Edwards, quietly separated from his wife, Elizabeth, before he admitted to fathering a child outside of their marriage.

John responded to this report by saying, “it is an extraordinarily sad moment, but I love my children more than anything and still care deeply about Elizabeth.”

People included the Edwards’ story on its cover and reported that Elizabeth had a mediated visit in a North Carolina hotel with the 23-month-old child whom John fathered with his mistress.

Elizabeth’s sister, Nancy Anania, told People that Elizabeth said, “I’ve had it. I can’t do this. I want my life back.”

Elizabeth’s spokeswoman has stated that she is moving on with her life following an “excruciatingly painful period for her.”

The couple is currently living in different residences.

Social Media Makes It Difficult to Break the Ties After Divorce

blog@www.mollybkenny.com (News Author)12462 — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

In the recent past, when a couple would divorce, it was easy for the ex-spouses to avoid each other’s friends. With new technology, including social media websites, breaking the ties after divorce has become even harder.

In the movie, He’s Just Not That Into You, there is a scene where Drew Barrymore’s character complains about the numerous technological ways she is being rebuffed by potential suitors – email, texts and MySpace. She comments that, “it’s exhausting.”

The problem that couples face now when they divorce is the connections they still have on social media websites, including Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and MySpace. These couples used to only see these friends at social gatherings, but not now they see them 24 hours a day on these social networking sites.

In an article provided by the New York Times News Service, titled, “Prolonging the Heartache: Digital Ties that Bind Make Breakups More Difficult,” it talks about the fact that breakups are being redefined. The article describes this situation by stating, “where once a spurned lover could use scissors to cut an ex out of the picture, digital images of the smiling couple in happier days abound on the Web and are difficult to delete.”

The advice for couples who have recently divorced – change their passwords, stop posting on social media websites and consider getting a new email address.

Tiger Woods' Wife Reportedly Wants to Save Marriage

blog@www.mollybkenny.com (News Author)12452 — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

After all the media attention and allegations about Tiger Woods’ affairs, his wife, Elin Nordegren wants to save her family. According to a Florida insider who talked with People.com, Elin is desperate for her two kids to have a dad and Tiger “wants to go back to being a golf star with major endorsements.”

The Florida insider went on to say that Tiger “wants his clients, who have kids of their own, to think he is a good family man.”

Tiger checked himself into a Mississippi sex-addiction clinic earlier in January and it is speculated that this week will be crucial in determining if his marriage can be salvaged. According a former patient at the clinic, “this is the rough part where the patient has to admit to his wife that he [cheated].”

Apparently, Tiger’s wife and management team ordered him to check into the clinic. A source had told US Weekly that he didn’t want to go to rehab. The source also told US Weekly that Tiger is having a difficult time not being able to play golf.

Campaign Brings Self-Defense Training to Domestic Violence Centers

blog@www.mollybkenny.com (News Author)12450 — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

Earlier this month, a campaign commenced that will bring self-defense training to at-risk and under-served women. According to Seattle Police Detective Kim Bogucki, these groups include, “homeless youth, homeless women, domestic violence centers, the Senior Center in West Seattle, the LGBQ community, just to name a few.”

This campaign, titled, “Fight the Fear,” came about from the community response to the murder of South Park resident Teresa Butz and the assault of her partner. Bogucki said that Butz was passionate about the organizations this campaign will be helping.

“Teresa’s partner felt that providing self-defense training for women in the city would be an amazingly positive outcome from a horrendous situation,” said Melinda Johnson, Executive Director of the Fight the Fear campaign.

Singer Brandi Carlile’s foundation will be helping pay for the campaign. She said that the goal is to get help to the women who need it.

According to Py Bateman, the founder of Alternatives to Fear that was a response to Ted Bundy’s attacks, now is the right time for this type of program. She believes that women know it’s okay to fight back.

For more information regarding this campaign, visit http://fightthefearcampaign.com.