The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please improve this article or discuss the issue on the talk page. Close relationships Affinity · Attachment · Bonding  · Boyfriend · Casual · Cohabitation  · Compersion  · Concubinage  · Consort · Courtesan  · Courtship  · Divorce · Domestic partnership  · Dower / Dowry / Bride price  · Family · Friendship · Girlfriend  · Husband · Infatuation · Intimacy  · Jealousy · Limerence · Love  · Marriage  · Monogamy  · Psychology of monogamy  · Serial monogamy · Nonmonogamy  · Passion · Pederasty  · Platonic love  · Polyamory  · Polyfidelity  · Polygamy  · Relationship abuse  · Relationship breakup  · Romance  · Romantic friendship  · Separation  · Sexuality  · Same-sex relationship  · Significant other  · Soulmate  · Teen dating violence  · Wedding  · Widowhood  · Wife  ·  This box: view " talk " edit 

Family law   Entering into marriage Prenuptial agreement · Marriage Common-law marriage Same-sex marriage Legal states similar to marriage Cohabitation · Civil union Domestic partnership Registered partnership Putative marriage Dissolution of marriage Annulment · Divorce · Alimony Issues affecting children Paternity · Legitimacy · Adoption Legal guardian · Ward Emancipation of minors · Foster care Child Protective Services (United States) Parental responsibility Contact (including visitation) Residence in English law Custody · Child support Related areas Spousal abuse · Child abuse Child abduction · Child marriage Adultery · Bigamy · Incest Conflict of laws Marriage · Nullity · Divorce v " d " e Divorce or dissolution of marriage is the termination of a marriage. Divorce can be contrasted with an annulment, which is a declaration that a marriage is void, though the effects of marriage may be recognised in such unions, such as spousal support or alimony, child custody, child support, and distribution of property. Divorce laws vary considerably around the world. Divorce is not possible in some countries, such as in Malta and in the Philippines, but an annulment is permitted. In some jurisdictions, a divorce must be certified by a court of law, as a legal action is needed to dissolve the prior legal act of marriage. The terms of the divorce are also determined by the court, though they may take into account prenuptial agreements or postnuptial agreements, or simply ratify terms that the spouses have agreed on privately. Often, however, the spouses disagree about the terms of the divorce, which can lead to stressful and expensive litigation. Less adversarial approaches to divorce settlements have recently emerged, such as mediation and collaborative divorce, which negotiate mutually acceptable resolution to conflicts. In some other countries, like Portugal, when the spouses agree to divorce and to the terms of the divorce, it can be certified by a non judiciary administrative entity, where also can be served an Electronic Divorce since March 2008. In cases involving children, governments have a pressing interest in ensuring that disputes between parents do not spill over into the family courts. One way of doing this is through the encouragement of a parenting plan. In the United States, all states now require parents to file a parenting plan when they legally separate or divorce. The subject of divorce as a social phenomenon is an important research topic in sociology. In many developed countries, divorce rates increased markedly during the twentieth century. Among the nations in which divorce has become commonplace are the United States, Canada, and members of the European Union. Japan retains a markedly lower divorce rate, though it has increased in recent years.