DIVORCE HEADQUARTERS NEWSLETTER       Issue #15,     SEPTEMBER 2001 The employees of JT Spaulding Associates, creators of Divorce Headquarters want to take a moment to remind us all how valuable our freedom is. We extend our deepest condolences to all those who lost loved ones in the tragedies that occured on September 11, 2001. For those of you going through this trying time of divorce, stop for a second to put things into perspective. Don't take a minute of life for granted as it is a precious gift. Know someone else going through the process? If you think they could benefit from this newsletter feel free to pass it on in it's entirety to them. Don't forget to mention DivorceHQ.com when contacting the divorce professionals listed on the site. In this Issue: Stress During Spats May Predict Divorce Odds What to Expect From a Divorce     by Robin Roshkind, P.A. Divorce Humor 1. Stress During Spats May Predict Divorce Odds It was reported in an article by Melissa Schorr for Reuter Health that study findings suggest the stress levels married couples work up during arguments may help determine whether they split. The findings are the result of a study done where 90 psychologically healthy newlywed couples had their blood hormone levels monitored for 24 hours. Each of the couples was asked to select a topic they found highly contentious and attempt to resolve the issue during a half-hour discussion. The couples were reassessed 10 years later to determine who had stayed together and who had split. The study found that women who later divorced had twice the levels of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), a stress hormone, during the arguments. Men and women who later divorced also had 34% higher adrenaline levels during their conflicts compared with couples who stayed together. Even when not actively debating, the couples who later divorced were more likely to have elevated stress hormone levels when they were together throughout the day. However, the study revealed that they found no evidence that these people were particularly easy to arouse in general. "People who are nastier when they are fighting tend to show higher hormone levels. It's a response to the style of interaction," Dr. Janice Kiecolt-Glaser, a professor of psychiatry at Ohio State University College of Medicine, told Reuters Health. "The nastiness is driving up hormone levels, and those predictors show up 10 years later." "You should pay attention before you get married to how you feel during and after an argument, and in the ways in which you are able to resolve arguments," Kiecolt-Glaser advised. "In a good marriage, couples don't let insults escalate and get out of control." The following is an excerpt from an article submitted by one of our professional members. For full text of all articles visit http://Divorcehq.com/articles.html 2. What to Expect From a Divorce     by Robin Roshkind, P.A. If you are currently facing a divorce, you are probably wondering what to expect from the divorce process. Just as no two marriages are alike, however, no two divorces are alike or have the exact same outcome either. Predictability and divorce do not go together. Still, an experienced family law attorney will be able to give you some idea of what to expect before, during and after your divorce. Armed with realistic expectations, you will have the best chance of being satisfied with the end result of your divorce. Normally, people contemplating divorce have some idea of what to expect from a divorce. They have witnessed divorces on television and in movies, and often personally know at least a handful of people who have been through a divorce. Increasingly, people have also experienced their own parents' divorce. In spite of this "second-hand" experience, facing your own divorce is one of the more frightening events in life. Not only do you face a court-sanctioned ending of possibly one of the more significant relationships you have ever had, you also must begin to think about such unpleasant things as the division of property and new living accommodations. In many cases, there is also the unhappy prospect of no longer seeing your children on a daily basis. While divorce may not be the hardest thing that your life has to offer, neither will it be a panacea for all your current problems and negative emotions. Consequently, it is wise to understand the realities of what a divorce can and cannot do for you. What Divorce Can Do.... A divorce court will attempt to divide the property of a marriage in the most economic way possible. Most states will exclude from this division any property that was acquired prior to the marriage or that was acquired via gift or inheritance. In some states (community property states) this involves a 50/50 split of the property acquired by the parties during the marriage. Other states (non-community property states) will inquire into the couple's individual financial circumstances, financial plans for the future, and other relevant matters in attempting an equitable distribution of the property. This distribution will be done differently depending on the circumstances of each particular case. That is why it is often difficult for attorneys to predict exactly how the divorce court will handle the division of a couple's property. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Robin Roshkind, P.A. concentrates on settlement of all the issues a divorcing couple must consider. The firm is a founding participant in the Collaborative Divorce Lawyers Association of Palm Beach County, a group of divorce attorneys which advocates amicable resolution and divorce with dignity. 3. HUMOR Have you heard of the new divorced Barbie doll? - She comes with all of Ken's stuff - Submitted anonymously