Researching divorce for future stories

[WordsIntheWyld]

When I started researching divorce laws for my story, I thought, “How complicated could it be? People do it all the time!” Turns out, it’s a legal labyrinth filled with fine print, paperwork nightmares, and enough red tape to gift-wrap a small country. I dove into articles about asset division, custody battles, and alimony, and before I knew it, I was knee-deep in legal jargon that made my head spin. Apparently, you can divorce a spouse, but not their debt...good to know! I even considered calling a divorce lawyer for an interview, but I was afraid they’d start charging me by the minute. The more I learned, the more I realized that divorce isn’t just about breaking up,it’s about navigating a bureaucratic obstacle course with your sanity (hopefully) intact. At least now, when my characters go through it, they’ll have all the legal misery,and maybe a little humor, to make it feel real.

 

[grey228]

Divorce is different for each state in the USA. Prenuptial agreements may hold more worth than not. It's painful for everyone involved, as alimony, even without children involved, gets complicated.

 

[TheWritingGroup]

I'm working on a story where divorce is a central plot device. (The main character is romancing a divorced man with a hostile, vengeful ex.) I finessed the problem by having the story take place in a fictional US state. As @grey228 said, that means this state can have whatever divorce rules I make up, meaning no one can snipe the exact way legal proceedings go.

-Annie

 

[SPARTAN047]

When I started researching divorce laws for my story, I thought, “How complicated could it be? People do it all the time!” Turns out, it’s a legal labyrinth filled with fine print, paperwork nightmares, and enough red tape to gift-wrap a small country. I dove into articles about asset division, custody battles, and alimony, and before I knew it, I was knee-deep in legal jargon that made my head spin. Apparently, you can divorce a spouse, but not their debt...good to know! I even considered calling a divorce lawyer for an interview, but I was afraid they’d start charging me by the minute. The more I learned, the more I realized that divorce isn’t just about breaking up,it’s about navigating a bureaucratic obstacle course with your sanity (hopefully) intact. At least now, when my characters go through it, they’ll have all the legal misery,and maybe a little humor, to make it feel real.

Yep. I didn't research it as much as you did, but after seeing how miserable people were and what the laws on debt and pre nuptial agreements are, I figured it's a nightmare.

That's why people are telling each other not to marry.

 

[grey228]

I'm working on a story where divorce is a central plot device. (The main character is romancing a divorced man with a hostile, vengeful ex.) I finessed the problem by having the story take place in a fictional US state. As @grey228 said, that means this state can have whatever divorce rules I make up, meaning no one can snipe the exact way legal proceedings go.

-Annie

Make the new state Puerto Rico and do whatever you want LOL

Hybrid states or states like Jefferson might be interesting, but for me, fictional states are going to break me out of your story, just an FYI.

 

[TheWritingGroup]

Make the new state Puerto Rico and do whatever you want LOL

Hybrid states or states like Jefferson might be interesting, but for me, fictional states are going to break me out of your story, just an FYI.

I mostly just don't name the state. My characters say or think, "This state ..."

-Annie

 

[Britva415]

Make the new state Puerto Rico and do whatever you want LOL

Hybrid states or states like Jefferson might be interesting, but for me, fictional states are going to break me out of your story, just an FYI.

It doesn’t have to be fictional, maybe just unnamed.

 

[grey228]

It doesn’t have to be fictional, maybe just unnamed.

I thought about that, but from how the laws get utilized, mentioned, or not mentioned, an array of likely locations may be determined. Especially if you have an A.I. like Grok to parse information for you, like some freaky library research superkid.

 

[WordsIntheWyld]

Some of these divorce laws and court outcomes sound like they were written by a team of Hollywood screenwriters who had one too many drinks. In fiction, you get dramatic courtroom showdowns where someone bursts in at the last second, yelling, “Wait! I have evidence that changes EVERYTHING!”—cue gasps and a sudden reversal of fate. Meanwhile, in reality, the biggest drama is whether the judge allows a coffee break before deciding who keeps the IKEA couch. Then there are those bizarre laws—like in some places, you can still legally divorce someone for witchcraft (because apparently, spell-casting is still a marital issue in 2025), while in others, forgetting your anniversary too many times is considered “mental cruelty.” Imagine explaining that one: “Your Honor, he said ‘What anniversary?’ for the tenth year in a row, and at this point, I’d rather take my chances with dating apps.” Fiction makes it seem like divorce is all high-stakes plotting but in reality? It’s mostly paperwork, bickering over toasters, and realizing you probably should’ve gotten a prenup on that Netflix account.

 

[grey228]

Some of these divorce laws and court outcomes sound like they were written by a team of Hollywood screenwriters who had one too many drinks. In fiction, you get dramatic courtroom showdowns where someone bursts in at the last second, yelling, “Wait! I have evidence that changes EVERYTHING!”—cue gasps and a sudden reversal of fate. Meanwhile, in reality, the biggest drama is whether the judge allows a coffee break before deciding who keeps the IKEA couch. Then there are those bizarre laws—like in some places, you can still legally divorce someone for witchcraft (because apparently, spell-casting is still a marital issue in 2025), while in others, forgetting your anniversary too many times is considered “mental cruelty.” Imagine explaining that one: “Your Honor, he said ‘What anniversary?’ for the tenth year in a row, and at this point, I’d rather take my chances with dating apps.” Fiction makes it seem like divorce is all high-stakes plotting but in reality? It’s mostly paperwork, bickering over toasters, and realizing you probably should’ve gotten a prenup on that Netflix account.

Yup. It's a headache. One reason why people write from personal experience. It helps to go through it so you have a front row seat.