A recent UK survey solidified what many couples, divorcees, and lawyers already knew: social media is bad for marriage and contributes to divorce.

A survey of 2,000 married couples in England found that one in seven partners contemplated divorce because of their spouse’s activities on Facebook, Twitter, Skype, Snapchat, or WhatsApp. The survey also found a partner’s usage of these social media sites contributed to at least one argument per week in 25 percent of the couples surveyed. Seventeen percent of couples, however, said social media usage led to arguments every day.

Furthermore, more than half (58 percent) of those surveyed claimed they knew their partner’s password even if the spouse was unaware they did. The reasons for knowing the password and subsequently checking their spouse’s account are typical amongst most couples: checking to see with whom the spouse is talking, keeping tabs on where and with whom their spouse is going out, and to see if their spouse is telling the truth about a variety of subjects. Fourteen percent of spouses specifically stated they snoop their spouse’s account for evidence of infidelity. Also, finding evidence of contact with exes and sending secret messages or inappropriate photos were found to be other targeted causes of arguments and reasons to snoop.

While the stereotype one sees in Hollywood is people marrying for citizenship, the fact of the matter is many couples have legitimate immigration concerns as they move forward in marriage and in the event of divorce. Depending on which stage of the immigration process you happen to be in, the act of divorcing your spouse can have varying effects on your residency status.

Visa Application (Green Card)

If you are in the start of your immigration process and your spouse has filed a visa petition on your behalf, a divorce would derail that petition and prevent you from moving forward in the process.

A recent study by the ING U.S. Retirement Research Institute looked at the effect divorce has on individuals feeling financially prepared for retirement. The negative effects are, in part, due to mistakes people make while still married and subsequently during a divorce that may have an effect on their retirement funds, especially for women.

The study found that only 45 percent of divorced individuals felt prepared for their retirement compared to 54 percent of married persons. It also found that those who were married (or living as married) independently saved $40,000 more on average for their retirement compared to singles.

The disparity is even greater for women. Women who were divorced had $34,000 less in total retirement savings than men. This is especially troubling considering women on average live longer than men.

If you are considering filing for divorce, you are likely aware of the different approaches you can take to end your marriage. Not every dissolution of marriage is carried out in the courtroom – in fact, it can be much faster, easier, and less expensive to divorce outside of court.

Mediation is a popular way for couples to divorce. With mediation, the couple works through their issues in a calm, non-threatening environment with help from a licensed mediator.

Mediation is not the best approach for every divorcing couple. When there are accusations of domestic violence or other criminal activity cited as the reason for the divorce, uncontrollable rage or other negative emotions, or one spouse is battling a substance addiction, mediation is usually not the best choice. Talk to your attorney about the circumstances and details of your divorce and let him or her help you determine whether or not the mediation approach is right for you.

There is more than one way for Illinois couples to effectively end their marriages. The most common method by far is divorce. When a couple gets a divorce, they go through the legal process of ending their marriage by dividing their property and arranging for their children's care and support. For some couples, an annulment is an option. If the couple can prove that their marriage is not valid, an annulment can quickly render their marriage void. Reasons for an annulment include one partner was too young to consent to marriage at the time of their wedding or one partner was married to another individual when the couple married. The final option is legal separation.

Legal separation is not the same as the type of separation that often precedes a divorce. This type of separation is discussed in the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. With a legal separation, the couple must file paperwork and submit it to the court as if they were going through the divorce process. They then go before a judge to have their case heard and settled, which may include the same provisions as a divorce, such as child custody arrangement, child support, spousal maintenance, and property division. Essentially, a legal separation is almost identical to a divorce. The only difference between a legal separation and a divorce is that a legally separated individual can not remarry unless he or she opts to get a divorce.

Why Would a Couple Choose a Legal Separation Instead of a Divorce?

There are a few reasons why Illinois couples take this route instead of a divorce. For some, a legal separation is actually the first stage of the divorce process. This is because it is possible to save a lot of money by legally separating prior to divorcing. The couple can work out their property valuation and division before other issues enter the picture this way. They can also enjoy certain tax advantages.