Some couples in Orange County may find that they are experiencing more conflict since the election of President Donald Trump. A study by Wakefield Research found that one out of 10 couples reported that their relationship had ended over a political disagreement. Among millennials, 22 percent said they had broken up with a partner over political differences.
The study surveyed 1,000 people between April 12 and April 18. It also found that 22 percent of people said they knew a couple whose relationship was suffering because of the election of Trump. While one common source of disagreement for couples is finances, over 20 percent of people said that since Trump’s election, they were fighting more about politics than money.
Researchers say they regularly conduct studies that look at the effect of current events on relationships. However, one New York divorce attorney reports that she has never seen so many couples divorce because of politics as she has since the Trump election.
Disagreements over politics, finances and many other issues might result in a couple deciding to divorce. When this happens, the couple must divide property and make decisions about custody if they have young children. If couples are unable to negotiate an agreement on these issues, a judge will make the decisions. Since California is a community property state, unless there is a prenuptial agreement, it is presumed that most property acquired after the marriage is jointly owned. In child custody cases, a judge will use the standard of the best interests of the child. This means the judge will take a number of factors into account including how willing one parent is to cooperate with the other. Showing a willingness to co-parent despite political and other differences may count in a parent’s favor when considering custody.
