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With children tending to reside with their mothers following divorce, making arrangements for Father’s Day can be a problematic task for a divorced couple. In fact, for many dads, the prospect of spending Father’s Day without their children is a very real and, indeed, harrowing possibility. Unfortunately, sometimes, this is unavoidable. Divorced couples often relocate and this can make it difficult to make the required arrangements. Nevertheless, every effort should be made to allow children to spend the day with their father. In the event that suitable arrangements cannot be made, then make sure that your children send their dad a card - if they are too young; write the card on their behalf. A phone call or, better yet, a conversation over a web cam, would not go amiss either. It may be difficult to bring yourself to do this, but you should try and wish your former partner a happy Father’s day – this will go a long way towards developing or maintaining an amicable and cordial rapport with your former spouse. Feelings of resentment and bitterness are common following a divorce, and many women deny their former husbands access to their children as a result. True, many fathers disappear into the ether following divorce, but for every dad that makes no effort to see his children, there is another struggling to enjoy contact with his estranged children. Experts are in agreement that it is beneficial for children to enjoy contact with both parents yet – depending upon which study you believe – between thirty five and fifty per cent of fathers lose contact with their children following separations; effectively meaning that three quarters of a million children in the UK are left fatherless following their parents having divorced. More worrying are the results of numerous studies which have revealed that children with absent fathers are more likely to develop drug problems, leave school early, become teenage mothers and display a range of behavioural and psychological problems. So, irrespective of how acrimonious your separation may have been, denying your ex contact with your children is severely detrimental to not only the individual that hurt you, but also the people that you love the most. If your husband isn’t currently enjoying contact with his children, then Father’s Day could be the perfect excuse for you to contact him and work towards an amicable arrangement. Remember, it’s in everyone’s best interests and no parent should be discouraged from playing an active part in their child’s life.

Kate Moss will be signing a prenuptial agreement before marrying boyfriend Jamie Hince according to reports. The 37 year old model plans to marry the Kills guitarist, 42, in a ceremony later this year and a source recently told newspaper the Daily Star that “Kate and Jamie are definitely going to sign a pre-nup to ensure Kate’s money and estate are both protected in the event of a divorce,” going on to add that ““This is something Jamie wants as much as Kate”. Moss, who has amassed an estimated £48 million since beginning her modelling career in 1988, was previously been embroiled in controversies relating to her use of illegal drugs and relationship with Pete Doherty. Hince’s band the Kills released their fourth LP ‘Blood Pressures’ on the 4th April and its leading single ‘Future Starts Slow’ was recently used to promote television show True Blood in America.

Spending more than forty five minutes commuting each day can significantly increase the likelihood of divorce according to a new study. The research, which was conducted by Erika Sandow of the Umeå University in Sweden, revealed that couples were forty per cent more likely to separate if one spouse engaged in a lengthy daily commute. Experts added that an individual is likely to be too tired to contribute to housework after travelling and that this can cause conflict within relationships. Men were far more likely to engage in long distance commutes and Sandow commented that this could potentially reinforce traditional, negative gender stereotypes such as breadwinners and housewives. Her research also showed that the chances of a couple separating were unaffected by whether it was the husband or wife engaging in the daily commute, however. The risk of divorce is far greater during the first few years of marriage, with couple’s concepts of an idyllic marriage giving way to day to day life during this period. Sandow also noted that many couples are successfully managing their situations, however, suggesting that “those who are managing have worked out a strategy of how to divide the household and organize their day in a way that works out for both partners. You have to create strategies on how to manage daily and remember the commute is not only affecting the commuter but those who stay at home.” Figures from the Office for National statistics show that seventy five per cent of workers within the UK could reach their places of work in less than thirty minutes with that figure dropping to forty four per cent for employees travelling to London.

Domestic violence is on the rise. Figures released by the Crown Prosecution Service have revealed that the number of spouses prosecuted for acts of domestic violence has more than doubled in the past five years. Men remain the main perpetrators with 55,000 successfully convicted in 2010 compared with 28,000 in 2005. Far fewer women have been prosecuted for acts of domestic violence, but the number of females convicted more than doubled with the relevant figure rising from 1,500 in 2005 to 4,000 in 2010. There can be no denying that, in the majority of circumstances, victims of domestic violence would be best advised to leave their partners and, should they be married to the perpetrator, commence divorce proceedings without hesitation. Unfortunately, whilst the myth that victims of domestic violence can leave their partner at any time is still frequently disseminated, leaving an abusive partner is often extremely dangerous and when the risk of physical harm is combined with the possibility of financial problems and concerns for children, many people find it difficult to find the courage to walk away from an abusive relationship. Before doing anything else, a person needs to recognise that they are the victim of domestic violence. It is important to point out that domestic violence is not only physical and that physiological abuse can be just as, if not more, damaging to an individual’s wellbeing. If you are unsure of whether or not your partner’s behaviour constitutes domestic abuse, then you can find a list of questions and advice on determining this at the Women’s Aid website. Once domestic violence has been established, you must understand that you are not to blame for the actions of your partner. Many victims of domestic violence have a tendency to blame themselves; you must reject such notions and realise that domestic abuse is inexcusable before you can even begin to plan escaping from your violent household. Finally – the most important step of all – get help. Contact your local police station and inform them of your situation, they will be more than happy to advise you on what options are available to you. You should also contact independent organisations such as the National Domestic Violence Helpline. Don’t forget to seek support from your friends, family and even your employers. Knowing that you have the help of these people and institutions can make a big difference in the long run. All in all, escaping from an abusive marriage is no easy task. Nevertheless, finding the courage and will to separate from and divorce an abusive partner will leave you free to once again enjoy life and pursue a rewarding and loving relationship.

Liz Hurley is set to be granted a quickie divorce from her husband, Arun Nayar. It has been reported that the model and actress has filed for divorce on the grounds of Indian textile millionaire Nayar’s unreasonable behaviour and she is set to be granted a decree nisi by District Judge Penny Cushing today. Neither Hurley nor Nayar are likely to attend the brief hearing which is due to take place in the family division of London’s High Court. Hurley announced that the couple had separated on social networking site Twitter in December of last year following her having been photographed kissing former international cricket star Shane Warne in a London hotel. Both Warne and Hurley have stated that they have no plans to marry anytime in hear future.

Children whose parents divorce are likely to develop mathematical and social skills at a slower rate than children unaffected by divorce, a recent study has suggested. The research, conducted by PHD student Hyun Sik Kim, of the University of Wisconsin, showed that children’s performances in maths tests worsened whilst their parents’ divorces were processed and that they are also far more likely to display problems with their interpersonal skills and internalising behaviour during this period. It had previously been thought that disputes at home would have detrimental effects on children immediately, but contrary to this belief, Kim’s research showed that the children studied displayed no negative effects of paternal conflict until after their parents had commenced divorce proceedings. The report also claimed that children of divorce are more prone to feelings of anxiety, loneliness, low self-esteem and sadness. No negative effects on the children’s reading ability was found, with it being suggested that this stems from the fact that reading does not require the same level of cumulative development as maths. Kim attributed these developmental and emotional setbacks to the stress of living with bickering parents, the unstable living arrangements associated with separated parents and the potential economic hardship that can arise from a drop in familial income. Fortunately, children do not show any further negative effects post-divorce and Kim himself has also suggested that effectively managing a divorce and talking your children through the process, along with the reasons as to why a divorce is necessary, can minimise or even eradicate the negative effects that divorce can have on children. “If they understand [the divorce], children may be able to concentrate better and form friendships.”

A recent study has revealed that relationships are likely to suffer and end in divorce if women have a poor night’s rest. The same is not true for men, however. Research conducted at the University Of Pittsburgh’s School Of Medicine, showed that wives who had not slept well the night before reported decreased social harmony the following day, with their husbands reporting identical results. If the husband experienced a poor night’s sleep then there appeared to be not adverse effect to the ‘functionality’ of the marriage, though. Dr Wendy Troxell, the school’s professor, studied the nocturnal activities of thirty five healthy married couples over ten nights with a device known as an actigraph used to record how long it took each individual to fall asleep and how long they slept for. The couples were then asked to note positive marital interactions, such as being praised or supported, and negative interactions, such as being unnecessarily criticised or ignored, in personal diaries. Results not only showed that couples were more likely to experience negative events in their marriages the day after a poor night’s rest, but that these negative events had little effect on the quality of sleep enjoyed that night and that husbands tended to get less sleep after having reported more positive interactions during the day. Prior research conducted by Dr Troxell had found that women who consistently shared their bed with a partner slept better than their single counterparts.

Prime Minister, David Cameron, has been blasted by critics following comments he made concerning absent fathers in yesterday’s Sunday Telegraph. In the article, Cameron states that “we need to make Britain a genuinely hostile place for fathers who go AWOL,” going on to add that “they need the message rammed home to them, from every part of our culture, that what they’re doing is wrong – that leaving single mothers, who do a heroic job against all odds, to fend for themselves simply isn’t acceptable”. These comments have sparked fierce debate, with Labour stating that the comments were “utterly disingenuous” and that policies that Cameron intends to introduce would in fact hinder single mothers. Shadow home secretary, Yvonne Cooper, said that Cameron’s words were “hollow” pointing out that single mothers that needed to enlist the help of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (CMEC) would be required to pay an upfront fee of £100 (£50 if they claim benefits) plus an on-going charge of between 7 and 12 per cent of any money paid by the absent parent when payments were collected and enforced by the CMEC. Erin Pizzey, founder of domestic violence charity Refuge, accused the Prime Minister of narrow mindedness, noting that there are any number of reasons why fathers may not be involved in their children’s lives, further stating that singling out fathers was wrong adding "There is a vast mass of women who are equally as feckless as the men and we never talk about them." A spokesperson from website onlydads.org agreed that Mr Cameron’s statements were oversimplifications, adding that there were numerous cultural, economic and legal issues which can prevent fathers from enjoying a relationship with their children following a separation or divorce. Plans to cut the country’s legal aid budget – as reported by Quickie Divorce on 8th June – are likely to further impede estranged father’s attempts to see their children. The cuts to the family court are expected to be so severe that less affluent fathers that require the court’ assistance in order to see their children will now have no option but to represent themselves.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has added its support to the Catholic Church’s decision to oppose legislation that would see divorce legalised within the Philippines. The militant Islamic group expressed its support via comments left on its website, www.luwaran.com, on Thursday. Following Malta having revoked its ban on divorce last week, the Philippines and the Vatican City are currently the only countries in the world that prohibit divorce. Proposals to legalise divorce – which are due to be discussed by a congressional committee in the near future – have been met by significant opposition from the Catholic Church. One of the bill’s creators, congresswoman Liz Ilagan, has stated that it is time for the Philippines to accept change and step out of the “dark ages”. The Catholic Church, on the other hand, have argued that the divorce bill is little more than an attempt to divert people’s attention away from more pressing issues and that being the last major nation to oppose divorce “is an honour that every Filipino should be proud of”. It is possible to have a marriage annulled in the Philippines, but many critics have argued that that this option is extremely expensive and is accessible to the country’s richest residents. Filipino people were previously afforded the opportunities to divorce their spouses during the American and Japanese occupations of the country before divorce was officially outlawed with the implementation of a civil code in 1950.

Celebrity divorce has been a hot topic for some time now and with several high profile stars having engaged in somewhat ‘questionable’ activity of late; newspapers worldwide are rife with stories of celebrity spouses collecting hefty pay-outs. But which celebrity divorces have proven to be the most expensive? Truth be told, with publishers being subjected to numerous legal restraints, it isn’t possible to say for certain, but we at Quickie Divorce have trawled news sources in order to shed light on this most titillating of topics. American scriptwriter, Melissa Mathison, who divorced husband Harrison Ford in 2004, is a significant contender for the award. With shrewd negotiations seeing her collect a significant portion of the Indian Jones and Fugitive’s star’s future royalties, this particular settlement has been estimated as being worth £72 million. This is followed closely by the £61 million that Steven Spielberg was ordered to give to former spouse Amy Irving in 1989. The E.T. director had requested that Irving sign a pre-nuptial agreement, but his bizarre belief that the impromptu document – which had been written on a napkin – would stands up in court was soon discounted and Spielberg was ordered to hand over half of his fortune to his then wife. Current reports suggest that these settlements are soon to be dwarfed, however, with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Mel Gibson set to shell out £122 and £208 million respectively. Impressive as these figures may be, they pale in comparison to the quite frankly eye-watering settlements linked to some of the world’s richest businessmen. Saudi Arabian businessman, Adnan Khashoggi, issued a payment of £500 million when divorcing his wife in 1980 whilst Rupert Murdoch paid out the largest record figure ever when he wrote his former wife, Anna Maria Torv, a cheque for £1 billion in 1999.

Are you unhappy in your marriage? If you’re answer to this question is an unequivocal yes, then you’ve no doubt already considered divorcing your spouse. Our feelings for our loved ones simply do not disappear overnight, however, and it’s therefore also likely that you’re considering ways of mending your marriage and avoiding divorce. We here at Quickie Divorce have therefore pooled our extensive knowledge and prepared some tips designed to help you rekindle and keep the spark that once made your marriage so special, here goes: Think it over and communicate If you’re unhappy, you really need to discuss things with your partner. Don’t dive into this head first, though, you’ll become flustered and won’t be able to communicate effectively. Worse yet, you could become defensive and get your spouse’s back up – hardly conducive to a reconciliatory conversation. Before talking things through with your partner, sit down and work out exactly why you’re unhappy. When you feel ready, talk to your partner and discuss your feelings with them. Make sure you remain calm and, above all else, are ready to acknowledge that you are responsible for some of the problems in your relationship too. One spouse rarely shoulders sole responsibility for all of the problems in a marriage and you must acknowledge this in order for you and your partner to reconcile your differences. Make sure you and your partner are on the same page Following this discussion, you and your partner should agree that you both want to work at your marriage, that past events are now behind you and that it’s time to move on. Unfortunately, if your partner does not agree and wants to separate, then – short of attempting to convince them otherwise – you need to accept your position and consider your options. Don’t worry about arguments (too much) It is a myth that arguments are a sign of an unhappy marriage. Rather, the fact that both partners are willing to engage in healthy debate – or even heated arguments – is a clear signifier that passion still exists within their relationship. Furthermore, conflict is an inevitable part of marriage, but it’s by no means a reason to walk away from your relationship. In our experience, it’s far worse when one spouse, or even both, no longer even have the energy to argue and are instead willing to accept anything that their partner says or does. This is a sure sign that your partner is no longer willing to ‘fight’ to make your marriage work and requires immediate action. Share some interests Whilst it’s perfectly healthy to have different interests and spend some time apart, the importance of making time for each other and, more importantly, enjoying this time, is of paramount importance. Think about what you enjoy and how you can share it with your partner. This could be as simple as talking a walk together, helping each other to prepare a family meal or even attend a class with one another. Alternatively, take an interest in some of your spouse’s favourite pastimes, however uninteresting they may seem. You never know, you might like them and you’ll earn significant brownie points. Make time for the things that you love Ok, this may appear to contradict the point that we’ve made above but recent research has shown that individuals that give up things they enjoy for the sake of their relationship often develop feelings of resentment towards their partners. So, make time for your friends, keep playing football on a Sunday morning and go to lunch with your girlfriends. Always remember, though, a little selfishness goes a long way and spending too much time away is likely to do more harm than good. Support each other With the modern world subjecting its occupants to consistent stress and pressure, developing a relationship where your partner feels protected is certain to create a happier atmosphere at home. So, talk to your spouse about their day, reassure them when they’re concerned and share household tasks. Trust us, your partner will soon reciprocate and you’ll find yourself in a much happier relationship. Trust each other We’ve all been tempted to read our partner’s emails or check their text messages, but all human beings require privacy and failing to respect this is almost certain to end in conflict. If, for any reason, you find yourself feeling suspicious of your partner’s actions, talk to them immediately; you’ll probably find out that you had nothing to worry about. Don’t be afraid to ask for help Last, but certainly not least, you should never be afraid to ask others for help. We’re not suggesting that you run to counselling every time something goes wrong, but there is a wealth of resources available to you from the internet to friends and relatives. Counselling may, at times be the best course of action if you are experiencing significant problems, but all relationships suffer from time to time and the advice of others can be greatly beneficial when problems do arise. If nothing else, merely knowing that others have had similar problems and provide comfort and remind you that nothing is beyond retrieval.

The continuous growth of the internet has had a significant effect on divorce applications with Legal personnel specialising in family law having stated that the vast majority of petitions that they prepared in 2010 made some reference to social networking sites. Emma Patel, the head of family law at Hart Scales & Hodges Solicitors in Surrey, has been quoted as saying that the number of petitions citing Facebook in one way or another is “remarkable.” She further stated that couples have referred to “flirty messages” and “inappropriate chat” in their petitions before adding that aggrieved spouse’s tendencies to make “inflammatory posts’ following divorce proceedings having begun have led to her advising her clients to refrain from using such sites until their divorces have concluded. “One divorcing couple’s rows on Facebook got so bad one party was charged with malicious communication after the police got involved” she stated. Lawyers have also become savvy to the wealth of evidence that can be obtained from the internet and a study conducted by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers revealed that Facebook provides the majority of this evidence with MySpace and Twitter close behind. Facebook evidence has been used to reveal that a woman that was claiming compensation owing to a disability was still competing as a professional bodybuilder post injury, whilst evidence gathered from other parts of the web was used to prove that a respondent in a divorce case had filmed her own acts of adultery and broadcast them over the web for profit. The online virtual world Second Life, were users interact with one another through avatars (a graphical representation of the user,) has caused further tension between couples with married users engaging in ‘virtual’ or ‘avatar affairs’ with other users. Unlike a conventional affair, those who engage in ‘avatar affairs’ will never meet their online lovers – thereby making it impossible for them to commit an actual act of adultery – but instead engage in a hypothetical relationship. Online games such as World of Warcraft have also been implicated in several divorce petitions of late. Prior to this, football management simulation game Championship Manager was held accountable for matrimonial disharmony, with reports stating that addiction to the game had been quoted in no less than 35 divorce petitions. Now, there’s nothing wrong with taking time to yourself but, for the sake of your marriage, put the mouse/keyboard/controller down occasionally and spend some time with your spouse. After all, don’t we all prefer reality to virtual reality?