1. Subscribe Now
  2. Follow Us
  3. Follow us on Facebook Follow us at Twitter Subscribe to our global feed
  4. |
  5. Advertise

Divorce in Washington

A down economy makes unhappy couples even more unhappy—and makes it harder for couples to split. Here are some memorable divorces, plus 88 lawyers who know how to get the job done.

By Leslie Milk ,    Kim Eisler    Published Sunday, February 01, 2009

The king and queen of Splitsville: Sandy Ain and Marna Tucker. They are two of the top divorce lawyers. Photograph by Chris Leaman.

Related: The Top 25 Divorce Lawyers in Washington 

You might think that in tough times, bankruptcy lawyers are the busiest people in town. But the economy here is more recession-proof than most. What a slowdown in business seems to cause is more wealthy people lining up for counsel at the offices of the region’s top divorce lawyers.

“When times are good,” says DC divorce lawyer Sandy Ain, “people tend to try to work things out. But now, when there isn’t as much to divide, the parties get much more contentious.”

Adds Bethesda’s Cheryl New: “When couples are flush, they hate each other. When they’re broke, they really hate each other.”

But for many middle-income people, the slowdown in house prices is complicating things. Rockville’s Robin Clark says that in the past, “the house was the savior—the parties could sell it and take away enough proceeds to pay off their debts and still have a nice nest egg. Now we have couples who purchased at the top of the market, then took cash out, and now they can’t break even. This creates a difficult cash-flow problem that only intensifies the anxiety.”

Hadrian Hatfield, who also practices in Bethesda, says falling house prices force some couples who hate each other to stay together. “The current environment is making it difficult to sell or refinance, eliminating one of the biggest financial options for ending a marriage or finding a solution. Those people must either wait out the downturn or bring cash to the settlement, both unpleasant prospects.”

And then there’s the calendar. Says Marna Tucker, Washington’s doyenne of divorce, “I have always found I get a huge number of client calls on the first day back after New Year’s. Many folks suck it up and decide that their New Year’s resolution will be to get rid of their spouse.”

Whether the economic slowdown is pushing the number of divorces up or down, divorce lawyers agree that disappearing assets have put lots of couples in a bad mood. “Stress is driving weak marriages to fail,” Hatfield says.

Our Valentine's Day Guide

Spending Valentine's Day with that special someone? Flying solo? Either way, here's our guide to make sure it's your best one yet. more

Killer App

Have a bunch of Silicon Valley geeks at Palantir Technologies figured out how to stop terrorists? more

Ask Harry and Louise: How Do I Help My Friend Get Over Her Obsession With a Loser?

Our husband-and-wife team advises a woman who’s concerned her friend is throwing her life away over the wrong man. more

Sex—and Other Secrets

Iris Krasnow, the author of bestselling books on relationships, talks about what makes love last. more

White House Source: President Will Have to Vacate Oval Office Next Year

Planned renovation to the White House means the next president—whoever it is—may be displaced from the Oval Office for as long as a year. more


Click to download our new iPhone mobile app

 

Find A ...
Find A Restaurant







  1. Only show Delivery
    Only show Kid Friendly
    Only show Late Night
    Only show Party Space
    Only show Weekend Brunch
Find Events




Find A Happy Hour





  1. search_finda.gif
Find A Spa




  1. search_finda.gif
Find a Home





  1. search_finda.gif
  2. Powered by  
Find A Hotel


  1.   


  2. Reviewed by Washingtonian
  3. Kid Friendly     Valet Parking
    Handicap Accessible    

  4. Childcare
    WiFi
    Pet Friendly
    Bar/Lounge/Dining
    Airport Shuttle
    Salon/Spa
    Swimming Pool
    Fitness Room
    On-site Drycleaning
    Meeting Rooms
    Golf
    Tennis Courts
    Game Room
  5. search_finda.gif
Follow Us Follow us on Facebook Follow us at Twitter Subscribe to our global feed
Get the Magazine Washington Lives By

It's your source for dining, nightlife, news, health, shopping and more in Washington.

Subscribe to Washingtonian

Washingtonian Magazine provides the best insights on:

Subscribe today for only $29.95 for 12 issues.