Cartersville Legal Blog

Filing a petition for divorce in a Georgia court might have been one of the most difficult decisions you've ever made. Then again, depending on your circumstances, it might have felt more like a logical unfolding of events. Either way, if you're like most parents, you've likely been concerned about your children, especially now that the holidays are fast approaching.

Divorce changes children's lives, even in low-stress situations. For instance, if your kids are used to having both sets of grandparents to your house for Thanksgiving dinner, they might ask questions about your plans for this year. As long as you and your ex are willing to focus on their best interests and not your past relationship problems, things have a good chance of working out okay. It's always smart to think ahead and have a support plan in mind in case a problem arises, however.

The Georgia Supreme Court ruled that it's unconstitutional for prosecutors to admit into evidence that a defendant refused to perform a breath test back in February of this year. They argued that it violated that individual's Fifth Amendment protections by doing so. Refusal of a blood test still can be admitted into evidence in Georgia courtrooms though.

Police officers across the state used to first explain implied consent laws to suspected motorists before ultimately administering breath tests. Most of them have stopped asking suspected intoxicated motorists to take breath tests ever since the Supreme Court made their ruling back in February though. Many officers report that suspects now either have to voluntarily say that they either want to refuse or to take the test.

Have you ever attended a wedding and thought, "This will never last?" If so, your instincts may be picking up on subtle cues that a couple isn't really compatible. Researchers say that there are several scientific ways to predict a divorce.

So, what are the biggest predictors of long-term marital instability?

Money causes divorce, regardless of your financial level. When couples don't agree about how to spend or save money, it can lead to serious issues with the relationship, even if they're relatively wealthy.

That said, many money problems that lead to divorce come from a distinct lack. Not being able to make ends meet puts a lot of stress on a couple or a family. Remember, stress is also linked to divorce. Some of the money issues that can end a marriage include:

• Worrying about your financial situation all the time because you just feel like there's never enough money.
• Always wanting to buy the most expensive items when less expensive options would be fine.
• Racking up a lot of debt on credit cards; this can happen when you don't earn enough money for your lifestyle or even when you do have a good salary.
• Taking out too many loans. For instance, maybe you have student loans and a mortgage, but you're considering more loans on top of that.
• Buying things that are a "bad" investment before things that are a good investment. For instance, spending on an expensive car instead of a house.
• Ignoring complaints from your significant other about your spending habits.