FindLaw.com reports that searches for “divorce” and related phrases such as “family law” and “child custody” jumped 50 percent – from just over 10,000 in December 2010 to nearly 16,000 in January 2011, and continued to surge through March.  “Divorce” has been the No. 1 searched term on FindLaw.com since February 2010.

FindLaw.com also analyzed divorce filings across the U.S. between 2008 and 2011 with Westlaw, the leading legal research database. The analysis revealed that divorces spike in January, continue to rise and peak in late March.

Reasons for the spike may be due to the stress of holidays, the prospect of spending another year in an unhappy marriage or the economic recovery.  Regardless of the reasons, it looks as though March is replacing January this year as the new Divorce Month.

Scientists at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden claim to have identified a divorce gene in females.

Women who inherit this variation of a common gene are, according to the study, less likely to get married and if they do marry, they are 50% more likely to have a troubled relationship.

The gene supposedly affects the way women process oxytocin, which is a natural hormone known to promote feelings of love and maternal affection.

The Maryland Senate passed a bill last night to allow gay marriages in the state by a vote of 25 to 21.  Maryland will join seven other states and the District of Columbia in permitting same sex marriages.

Govenor O’Malley said he would sign the bill into law.

However, the bill provides that the law will not go into effect until all legal challenges are exhausted.  Opponents of the bill appear to have enough signatures for a referendum, which means Maryland residents will vote on the law in the November elections.

Polls indicate that Maryland residents are fairly evenly divided on the issue.

We’re delighted that Maryland Divorce Legal Crier has been selected as a finalist in the Readers Choice Awards for Best Family Law Blog at About.com Single Parents.  You can help us by voting for your favorite here.

A bill has been introduced in the Maryland House of Delegates to extend child support to age 21 if the child is enrolled in college.

A similar bill was defeated last year.

Under current law, a Maryland divorce court cannot order a parent to pay for college, but can enforce an agreement that provides for this.

Do you think the court should make parents pay for their children’s college?

See House Bill # 986.

When I Get It
by Craig Campbell

My ex-wife’s at the door a-knockin’
Lord that woman won’t leave me alone
Same question, where’s my money
Well, honey, you can’t get blood from a stone

When I get it, you get it
Times are tough, get in line and wait
When I get it, you get it
And that’s all you’re gettin’ today, yeah.

Lincoln is one of my heroes.  I’ve quoted him in some of my pleadings.

But who knew he was a divorce lawyer?

The Wall Street Journal Law Blog says that Lincoln and his law partners handled 131 divorces between 1837 and 1861.

Scott Dekraai, 41, allegedly walked into the beauty salon where his ex-wife worked and killed her and seven other people yesterday in Seal Beach, California.  They were involved in a bitter custody battle over their 8 year old son.

I think there is a rage reaction lurking in all of us.  Most of us keep it under control.   But emotions are strong and they can overwhelm logical thinking.

I’ve had clients who have let their anger involve them in domestic violence.  I’ve had clients who have directed their anger inwardly and tried to commit suicide.  When I asked them why, they said something like “I don’t know.  I just snapped.”

My advice?  No matter what happens in your divorce, get control of your anger.  And have a big flashing neon sign in the back of your mind that says “The best revenge is living well.”

Glenn Phillips of Birmingham, Alabama, is the founder of Forte, Inc., a software consulting business, who went through a contentious divorce, as reported by Deborah L. Cohen of Reuters.

In addition to legal fees, support and property division, he estimates his divorce cost him more than $200,000 in lost business.  He said he was regularly pulled away from work for meetings with lawyers, producing documents in discovery, and settlement negotiations, which took up more than a year.

“It was painful, it was costly,” said Phillips, “I wasn’t there to lead and direct.”  Phillips was able to keep his business and turn things around eventually but divorce can have hidden and indirect costs for small business owners.

A kind word turneth away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. –Proverbs 15:1