Splitting up may be the right thing to do. To help you recognize the mistakes you may be making now—and to avoid future missteps—here are 15 of the biggest and most frequent divorce blunders.

Written by Gabrielle Linzer and Christina Parrella for AOL Health.

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Since gay couples can't have children, they shouldn't marry. Or so goes the ruling in more than a few states.

So far, same-sex marriage is only legal in three states: Connecticut, Massachusetts and Iowa. Although it will be legal in Vermont on September 1, and in Maine on September 14, the rest of the country is convinced that gay marriage is a contradiction in terms.

If the purpose of marriage, they say, is  to make babies, then how can anyone other than a man and a women be legally married? Read More

According to The National Enquirer, those close to Jon and Kate say they’re heading for a nasty $10 million divorce. "Jon is going to push for half of their money, but Kate is determined to hang on to as much as she can — and they're worth more than you think." 

The couple earns a reported $75,000 for each episode of their hit show, Jon & Kate Plus 8, in addition to the $20,000 they pull in per each speaking engagement. Read: Marriage: It's All About The Money

If that's the case, things will be heating up … Read More

The Iowa Supreme Court struck down a same-sex marriage ban today, making Iowa the third state where same-sex marriage is legal. The Atlantic reported, "Iowa's Supreme Court ruled that the state cannot prohibit same-sex couples from seeking marriage licenses."

Across the pond, the Swedish Parliament voted that as of May 1, same-sex marriages will be granted there as well. The law was passed by 226 votes to 22, according to BBC News.

"The decision means that gender no longer has an impact on the ability to marry and that the law on registered partnership is repealed," the Swedish … Read More

When I had my kids, I bought ipecac syrup to keep in the medicine cabinet on the off chance that one of them might swallow something potentially fatal. Twenty years later, the bottle's still there, its seal unbroken, my heart full of thanks.

We hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. Like any halfway intelligent person, we pay our insurance premiums, get our mammograms, fasten our seat belts, and go through life.

So what is it about a prenuptial agreement that sends the perfectly rational among us into a giant, collective cringe?

The evidence for their usefulness, accrued … Read More

Whether you're shacking up as a precursor to getting married; feel like it's the right step for now; or throwing in together to save on rent money (not recommended), there are plenty of articles written to help you make the transition. Some are quizzes to ascertain your readiness, others give pointers on how to break the news to your fundamentalist evangelical family and more will advise you on how to handle the inevitable challenges that come with sharing a bathroom and fitting his Barcalounger into your mid-century modern decor. But, even though you're not registering for a marriage license … Read More

Divorce law is just a complex as all other areas of law, which means it's very complicated. Since these laws are set at the state level, differences from one state to another can have a huge impact on the process of divorce and how settlements are developed. For this reason alone, getting good legal advice from an experience lawyer in your state can be vital.

Explaining every difference in state laws would take a library's worth of words. This articles addresses one important difference you will need to understand: What grounds for divorce are available in your state, and how … Read More

Before I got married my grandma told me to put my names in all my books. "Why?" I asked. 

"Because, I know how much you love them and you don't want them to get mixed up with his. You know, just in case…" 

I doubt that my copy of Anna Karenina will get mixed up with his Principles of Electrical Engineering, but I did follow my grandma's advice. You know, just in case… 

So far, for us "just in case" hasn't happened. But for many couples just in case is a reality and many of them didn't have … Read More

From Las Vegas Sun
By Joe Schoenmann

As far as Kimberly Shirak of Ypsilanti, Mich., is concerned, she and her husband of six months are married - really, truly, legally married.

And to prove it, she's got a marriage certificate from Las Vegas' Garden of Love, photos of family members and an Elvis impersonator, and the signature of an official witness.

Problem is, the witness - the chapel's co-owner - was about 1,000 miles away at the time of the April 7 nuptials, watching an Ultimate Fighting Championship match in Texas.

So, back to the big question: Does that mean Shirak is … Read More