Every time a new presidential administration takes over the federal executive branch, things change. New hiring and staffing turnovers at various agencies unfold, new executive orders reshape exercises of executive power, and the broader political climate – at both federal and state levels – tends to shift. While the daily life of most Americans has not been traditionally impacted significantly by the ins and outs of presidential administrations, when policy and cultural shifts swing widely, the risk of significant impacts goes up. Whether you support, oppose, or remain largely indifferent to the transition from Biden to the second Trump administration, it isn't hard to see that over the past few months, “the times, they are a-changin'” in objectively extreme ways by American historical standards.

While hard statistics have yet to be published about divorce rates over the past few months, there is no shortage of anecdotal evidence indicating that a truly unusual number of women have been calling divorce attorneys to start the process of leaving their spouses. There has also been a meaningful uptick in regard to the future of no-fault divorce in New Jersey and elsewhere since the November 2024 election. If you are thinking about filing for divorce, seeking a restraining order, or otherwise have questions about your rights, call 888-535-3686 or contact the Lento Law Firm online today for more information. With so much at stake, we want to make sure that you are empowered to make truly informed decisions about your marriage, your safety, and your future as the American political climate evolves.

What Is Happening?

Some researchers indicate that Americans are more politically polarized today than they have been within the last 50 years. Some say that they're more polarized than they have been since the Civil War. Either way, it's not hard to see how identity politics, concerns about women's rights, an “all day, every day” media landscape, and the reshaping of what it means to be conservative or liberal could cause tension in marriages wherein one spouse leans one way politically, and the other leans in the opposite direction. It is also clear that individual political affiliations are increasingly impacting the ways in which millions of Americans make both day-to-day decisions and longer-term commitments. For some couples, the reelection of Donald Trump is making clear that the values held by each spouse are simply too dissimilar in meaningful ways for a critical marital gap to be effectively bridged. In these cases, filing for divorce may be the healthiest way forward for one or both spouses.

What Could the Future Hold?

Unfortunately, the decision to leave an unhealthy marriage could become substantially more difficult in the near future, if the policy goals espoused by many within the Trump administration – including the Vice President – have their way. Women's ability to divorce quickly and safely could be significantly imperiled if states begin rolling back their no-fault divorce policies. Presently, couples can divorce citing irreconcilable differences alone across the United States, unless that couple has entered a covenant marriage or other, very limited, exceptions to their situation apply. If no-fault divorce is abolished or severely restricted, ending a marriage and escaping domestic violence scenarios are going to become much more challenging processes than they are now.

Legal Assistance Is Available

Divorce is a major life event that can impact your finances, legal rights, personal life, and well-being both for better and for worse. Leaving an abusive partner is a similarly consequential concern. Know that if you need to leave a relationship that is no longer safe, healthy, or is “simply” no longer what you need it to be, the trusted Family Law Team at the Lento Law Firm can help. We understand that the stakes of your situation are high and that they might be climbing higher due to the current U.S. political climate. Call 888-535-3686 or contact us online to learn more about your rights and options today. We look forward to hearing from you.