Divorce facts for kids

A divorce is when a married couple legally ends their marriage. After a divorce, they are no longer husband and wife in the eyes of the law. It's a big change for everyone involved.

How Divorce Can Affect Families

The book "Tommy and Tiger Terry" offers hope for children dealing with family separation.

Going through a divorce or separation can be a very stressful time. It's normal for people to feel sad, confused, or even angry. If there are children in the family, they might also feel sad or worried when their parents separate.

It's important to remember that many people and resources can help families during this time. Talking to a trusted adult, a school counselor, or a family therapist can make a big difference. There are also books and support groups designed to help kids understand and cope with divorce.

New Family Members: Step- and Half-Siblings

Sometimes, after a divorce, one or both parents might get married again. When this happens, new family members can join the family.

• Stepchildren are the children of a new husband or wife from a previous relationship.
• The word "step-" is used to show a family connection through a new marriage, like a "stepmom" or "stepdad."

If parents have new children in their new marriage, these children are called half-brothers or half-sisters to the children from the first marriage. This is because they share one parent but not both.

Divorce Around the World

Divorce laws are different in every country. What is allowed in one place might not be allowed in another.

For example, only two countries in the world do not have a law for divorce:

• The Philippines
• The Vatican

In the Philippines, married people cannot legally end their marriage through divorce. However, they can sometimes get an annulment. An annulment means the marriage is treated as if it never happened, often because of a mistake or problem when the marriage began.

Many religions also have strong beliefs about marriage and may not agree with couples divorcing.

Related Pages

• Child custody

Images for kids

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  "Just Divorced!" hand-written on an automobile's rear window.

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  Roman married couple.

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  Henry VIII of England broke with the Catholic Church to get an annulment.

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  Joséphine, first wife of Napoleon, ended her marriage under the Napoleonic Code of 1804.

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  Marilyn Monroe signing divorce papers with celebrity attorney Jerry Giesler.