According to a New York Times article, the New York State legislature recently approved legislation that would allow No-Fault divorces in New York. The state of New York is the last state that still requires one spouse to have committed a wrong (or at least to take the blame) for the dissolution of a marriage.

Many, including the Roman Catholic Church, oppose the change because they believe it will raise the divorce rates in New York. Interestingly, the divorce rates in New York, though low compared to all 50 states (ranking 33rd), are still higher than a state like Massachusetts where No-Fault Divorce has been the law for more than thirty years (3.4 per 1000 people per year in New York vs. 2.5 per 1000 people per year in Massachusetts according to StateMaster.com).

If No-Fault divorce doesn't cause a rise in divorce rates, then what is the impact?

According to a New York Times op-ed column, there are potential advantages a. The advantages include an 8-16% reduction in wife's suicide rates and a 30% reduction in domestic violence (according to a University of Pennsylvania report by economists Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers). In addition, the ability of one participant to end the marriage can change the bargaining power in the relationship causing both partners to change how they view the marital relationship. This could cause either party to invest less in the marriage, or could cause both parties to be more attentive to unhappiness in the marriage.

A valuable impact of allowing no-fault divorce, though, can be the ability of more couples to use mediation. Because neither party needs to accept fault, they are more likely to try and work out their differences with a mediator than litigate their case. Increasing the number of mediations could be the single-most positive impact of no-fault divorce, because, as one study found, mediation increases the likelihood of settlement, improved co-parenting relationships between parents, and improved the relationship of non-custodial parents and their children.

Sounds like it's about time New York joined the other 49 states in offering a No-Fault option.

Child Support is the amount of money paid by the non-custodial parent to the custodial parent for the support of the children. Child Support is calculated using a formula called the Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines. The formula is presumptive, and Judges can only vary from the formula in specific circumstances. You should consult an attorney to discuss what facts in your case might warrant a variation from the formula.

To view the formula and calculate your Child Support click here.

A recent tongue-in-cheek blog post by fellow attorney and blawger, Gabriel Cheong, describes his support for the 2010 California Marriage Protection Act.

The 2010 California Marriage Protection Act, a proposed amendment available at http://rescuemarriage.org/2009/08/22/2010-california-protection-of-marriage-act/, takes Proposition 8 one step further by banning divorce in the state of California.

Support of the 2010 California Marriage Protection Act demonstrates the hypocrisy of attacking gay marriage for being detrimental to the sanctity of marriage when the state allows divorce. Divorce, after all, is the ultimate attack on the sanctity of marriage.

Although this is the classic slippery slope argument, the method can hardly be questioned by those who claim gay marriage will lead to people wanting to marry their pets.

This leads to the question: What does it really mean to protect the sanctity of marriage?

Sanctity is defined by the Merriam Webster Dictionary as 1. the holiness of life and character, or 2. the quality or state of being holy or sacred.

So when you hear pundits, politicians and protesters telling you that the sanctity of marriage is being attacked in the United States, they are right. But it isn't under attack because homosexual couples want to get married. The sanctity of marriage has been under attack since the first time one spouse cheated on their spouse, lied to their spouse, or otherwise disrespected the bonds of marriage.

The fight to keep marriage sacred is not a fight that can be won by the writing of laws, or restricting certain people from enjoying that bond. The fight to keep marriage sacred is an ever vigilant effort by a spouse to support, love and respect their spouse, and it takes two spouses willing to make that effort.

Forcing people to stay in marriages where their spouse is unwilling to make that effort is just as silly as refusing to recognize that homosexuals also have the ability to participate in a sacred bond of support, love and respect with their partners (whether or not the laws support them).