reasons for divorce

What Is ‘Default Parent Syndrome’ and Why Does It Lead to Divorce?

October 21, 2025 | Kearns Rotolo Law

“Default Parent Syndrome” happens when one parent takes on the role of primary caregiver and household manager. Often, this role goes beyond everyday chores, like packing lunches and checking homework, to anticipating everyone’s needs before those needs even arise. At this point, the role that can become overwhelming and lead to the breakdown of relationships.

Today there seems to be an increase in ‘default parent divorce’ spurred, in part, by the fact that many mothers – the typical ‘default parent’ – now try to balance this role with their careers. The financial independence they’ve achieved through their careers opens more options for them. But divorce doesn’t have to be the answer. To learn more about ‘default parent syndrome,’ how it can damage relationships between partners, and what can be done to fix that damage, read “’Default Parent Divorce’ Is On The Rise – & It’s About A Lot More Than Chores.”

Questions to Consider Before Committing to Divorce

December 4, 2024 | Kearns Rotolo Law

Most people do believe marriage is a life-long commitment, and they don’t take the vow “to death do us part” lightly. But every marriage has its ups and downs and the disappointments and frustrations that come with the lowest downs can cause couples to question whether they should stick it out or go their separate ways.

Just like marriage, though, divorce is a serious decision that shouldn’t be entered into lightly. Before taking such a huge step, couples should ask themselves some soul-searching questions to determine whether it is, in fact, the right decision for them. For a few examples, read “Is Divorce The Right Answer? 16 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Making A Final Decision.”

Investing Too Much in the Wedding Can Hurt the Marriage

August 1, 2019 | Kearns Rotolo Law

If your dreams of the perfect wedding include lavish venues, exclusive designer gowns, gourmet food and star-studded entertainment, your marriage could be in trouble before it even starts.

A recent survey found that almost half of those couples who went into debt to finance a lavish wedding eventually considered divorce, citing money as the reason. That’s in sharp contrast to their more frugal counterparts who managed to keep their wedding plans within budget; less than 10% of the couples in this group later considered divorce. Why would the cost of a wedding have any affect on the longevity of the marriage? Read “Couples who go into wedding debt are more likely to consider divorce” to find out.