Since election day last November, there’s been a marked increase in enquiries into divorce across the country. It seems that couples who voted differently had such strong feelings about a spouse that supported the “wrong” candidate found it impossible to achieve or maintain a contented relationship. What’s behind the increase in divorce filings?

Cutting Ties 

For couples who are ready to sever ties over political differences, one has to think that there was more beneath the surface, and the election triggered it to come spewing out. Anecdotally, the increase in queries about divorce has skyrocketed well beyond the usual January boost, and it started clear back in November—a month that is usually slow for divorce consultations. It appears that couples with conflicting political values are finding that they have compatibility problems that go well beyond election issues. Women are sharing that their partner’s views have come into sharper focus, and those views do not support women.  Many of them are feeling disrespected and undervalued, leading some to call it quits.

It May Have Been Building Up for Some Time 

In truth, many of these couples had probably been struggling long before politics took center stage. It’s likely that for some, the election highlighted many of the issues they’d been muddling through previously, which ultimately boiled down to differing worldviews.

Winners and Losers? 

One key way that politics can impact marital relationships is related to the fact that in politics there are definite winners and losers. Anyone on the winning side may think it’s fun to tease or harass the losing team, but that hazing may not land well on the opposing side. With the stakes feeling incredibly high this election season, anyone who is on the losing team may be inordinately sensitive to gloating and provocation. With the overall climate in society being intensely divisive of late, it’s pretty easy to become engrossed in the drama.

Another Concern…

In addition to the actual conflict in a marriage, there are some who are quite worried about the possibility of no-fault divorce being rescinded in the near future. Questions as to whether national, state, or local governments will be making changes to the requirements associated with divorce are popping up daily.  Since some prominent national figures believe no-fault divorce is bad for the country, and because legislation to eliminate it has been introduced in multiple states, the future status of no-fault is anyone’s guess. But for anyone considering a split and hoping to avoid the complications of stricter requirements for grounds for divorce, now might be the time to file. Otherwise, if things go south, a divorce may be more costly emotionally, financially, and timewise.

Your Advocate 

Regardless of the circumstances, the dedicated and experienced Baltimore divorce attorneys at The Law Office of Hasson D. Barnes always fight to achieve the best possible outcomes for you.  To discuss, schedule a confidential consultation in our Baltimore office today.