Unwanted pursuit behaviors — which include relatively innocuous behaviors, such as gift - giving or exaggerated displays
of affection, as well as more serious types
of intrusions, such as stalking or threats
of physical violence — occur relatively frequently following relationship
breakups.1 Recently, researchers at Ghent University examined the
circumstances under which unwanted pursuit behaviors are especially likely to occur.2 Using a sample
of 396 divorced individuals, they investigated whether certain
breakup characteristics (most notably, who initiated the separation) predict the frequency
of post-divorce unwanted pursuit behaviors.
«After a
breakup, it is tempting to alienate children from a former spouse, but in most
circumstances that is absolutely contrary to what's in their children's best interest and, in my opinion, it's a form
of child abuse,» Diamond tells AdvocateDaily.com.
In making an equitable apportionment
of marital property, the family court must give weight in such proportion as it finds appropriate to all
of the following factors: (1) the duration
of the marriage along with the ages
of the parties at the time
of the marriage and at the time
of the divorce; (2) marital misconduct or fault
of either or both parties, if the misconduct affects or has affected the economic
circumstances of the parties or contributed to the
breakup of the marriage; (3) the value
of the marital property and the contribution
of each spouse to the acquisition, preservation, depreciation, or appreciation in value
of the marital property, including the contribution
of the spouse as homemaker; (4) the income
of each spouse, the earning potential
of each spouse, and the opportunity for future acquisition
of capital assets; (5) the health, both physical and emotional,
of each spouse; (6) either spouse's need for additional training or education in order to achieve that spouse's income potential; (7) the non marital property
of each spouse; (8) the existence or nonexistence
of vested retirement benefits for each or either spouse; (9) whether separate maintenance or alimony has been awarded; (10) the desirability
of awarding the family home as part
of equitable distribution or the right to live therein for reasonable periods to the spouse having custody
of any children; (11) the tax consequences to each or either party as a result
of equitable apportionment; (12) the existence and extent
of any prior support obligations; (13) liens and any other encumbrances upon the marital property and any other existing debts; (14) child custody arrangements and obligations at the time
of the entry
of the order; and (15) such other relevant factors as the trial court shall expressly enumerate in its order.