On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Property Division on Thursday, April 21, 2016.
People who stay married despite being unhappy do so for a variety of reasons. They may believe they cannot afford to get divorced and live on their own. Many parents stay together “for the kids,” on the assumption that the children would be devastated if their parents ever split up. Sadly, many people are victims of domestic violence and are afraid to leave.
Then there is socialite and reality television star Khloe Kardashian. She and her husband, former basketball star Lamar Odom, separated some time ago, but the spouses have yet to formally divorce. Odom, as readers may know, suffered a nearly fatal drug overdose in October. Though he has since recovered, the two have been spotted in public together, and rumor has it that Kardashian is reluctant to pursue the divorce for Odom’s sake.
According to a celebrity gossip site, Kardashian is afraid to file for divorce because she believes Odom relies too much on her, and getting divorced would “cripple” him.
Whether or not this is true, certainly there are people in Illinois married to someone with a disability or chronic illness who have considered divorce, but worried that their spouse would not be able to care for themselves.
This may be a legitimate concern, but ultimately nobody should be stuck in a marriage they don’t want to stay in. Special circumstances may affect how you divide up the marital property, for example, but it should not prolong a marriage that is not working. An experienced divorce attorney will help you through this process.
