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There is an expression that says, “A house divided by conflict cannot survive.” Perhaps that’s why some family law attorneys are seeing a spike in divorces this election cycle.
As politics has become a highly divisive force, relatively new types of conflict have emerged. It pits spouses against each other not over financial disputes or infidelity, but over the thorny territory of ideological differences. As conflicts intensify with each election cycle, partisan politics are now often cited as irreconcilable differences in relationships and are becoming central to discussions about co-parenting.
“I often hear from my clients about constant fighting, differing political views, disagreements over how to raise their children, or major disagreements about the future direction of their children’s lives. It’s conservative, structured vs. conservative. It’s unorganized, and sometimes political beliefs come into play when dealing with co-parenting issues,” said the Washington, D.C.-based family lawyer. Jonathan Levolitz, founder of Levolitz Law Firm, said in a press release.
In an interview with FOX News Digital on Monday, Levolitz noted that the past three election cycles have seen a surge in diaspora rooted in political discord. He observed that polarizing issues such as abortion, drugs and sexuality are tearing families apart as political ideology becomes more deeply embedded in societal values.
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Some lawyers in the Washington, D.C., area are reporting an increase in divorces and custody battles motivated by political divisions. (St. Petersburg)
“It’s very difficult because as[people]become more polarized, their positions become more entrenched,” he said.
“So what’s happening is they’re basically digging a hole of litigation because they’re not willing to compromise…Most of the time, you’re not going to get 100% of what you want, so you compromise. “There is a need,” he continued.
The impasse has led to more people stubbornly rejecting the negotiations, accusing the other party of not making good decisions and demanding complete control, he said.
Levolitz’s experience is not isolated. Cheryl New, a family law attorney based in Bethesda, Maryland, has seen an unprecedented number of divorces related to ideological differences compared to any other time in her 35-year career, according to a July Axios report. It is said that there are so many that there are none.
“[It’s]no longer, ‘Who do you want for president?’ It branches into a lot of other areas of how you have to relate to your spouse,” she said.
A conservative father and a liberal mother who disagree on whether to let their transgender child publicly express their gender identity, or perhaps disagree about the possibility of their 16-year-old daughter having an unexpected abortion. Consider a conservative mother and a liberal father who are at odds. pregnancy.
“Many divorces are caused by hot-button issues such as abortion. I’ve heard of at least four or five such stories in the last two or three months,” Levolitz said of men seeking divorce. Explaining the incident in detail, he said: Divorcing his wife after she had two abortions without his permission.
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Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. With each election cycle, Americans seem to become more and more polarized, with issues like abortion, drug legalization, and immigration adding to the divide. (Getty Images)
“There have been some cases where marijuana has been an issue[in co-parenting]. Basically, one parent thought they should try marijuana with their kids, they should expose them more. But the other parent thought marijuana was a problem, “a gateway drug,” he added.
Parents may have different opinions about education, with one person wanting a private school for their child and the other preferring a public school. When it comes to dating, one parent may prefer stricter rules for their teenager, while the other parent may impose more lenient rules.
Jessica Markham, a lawyer also based in the D.C. area, cited the coronavirus as a factor in the Axios report, which she said was influenced by disagreements over vaccinations and mask-wearing. She said many of the divisions that started then have escalated since then.
Markham also argued that one parent does not have custody rights, especially if that parent allegedly holds extreme views or shares “conspiracy theories” in online posts. He also said that political ideology is being used to do so.
In Levolitz’s experience, this issue was present to a lesser extent in the 2012 showdown between former President Barack Obama and Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), but is currently hotly contested. At the time, the issue was not that pressing.
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Abortion remains an important social issue in American politics, especially after Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, which reversed Roe v. Wade. This issue has also caused controversy among some families. (Gina Ferrazzi/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
“More people were able to agree on the issue of marijuana being an illegal drug. Now, over time, things have changed,” he said as an example.
“I think people were more comfortable back then. They were more willing to compromise.”
His message to parents currently embroiled in custody battles? Recognize your child’s humanity.
“People need to understand that the child does not belong to them. The child does not belong to the mother, the child does not belong to the father, and it does not belong to any third party who may be involved. A child is a human being. And that’s something everyone has to realize.”
“And to a certain extent, you need to take the child out of the hostility, out of the fray of what’s going on, and allow the parent to, to some extent, come to their own conclusions or try to set them up as they see fit. “It is a basic policy that allows each parent to make the decisions that are most important to them, leaving the other parent alone and taking a hands-off approach, despite political motivations.” It’s a rule. ”
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