Divorce Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield Divorce facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. When a couple has not been physically intimate for an extended period and neither partner raises the issue, what does this often indicate? → Emotional disconnection and possible resignation about the marriage
2. True/False: Historically, women have typically kept both physical and legal custody of their kids after a divorce. → True
3. What is 'dissipation of marital assets'? → One spouse wastefully or recklessly spending marital assets in anticipation of divorce
4. What role does a QDRO (Qualified Domestic Relations Order) play in divorce mediation involving retirement accounts? → It is a court order that divides certain retirement plan benefits between spouses
5. When does a valid marriage end? → Divorce
6. Which change in communication style most strongly predicts marital breakdown according to research? → Couples who criticize each other's character rather than specific behaviors
7. What is 'alimony' in a divorce? → Financial support paid by one ex-spouse to the other after divorce
8. What is 'imputed income' in the context of divorce and support calculations? → Income a court assigns to a spouse based on their earning capacity
9. What is a crucial element that affects the likelihood of divorce in the United States? → Ethnicity
10. When a couple's only shared activity is watching television together in silence, what does this pattern typically indicate? → Loss of genuine connection and shared engagement
11. Which factor does a court NOT typically consider when dividing marital debt in a divorce? → The credit scores of each spouse at the time of marriage
12. What is 'bridge-the-gap' alimony? → Short-term support to help a spouse transition from married to single life
13. What is a 'forensic accountant' used for in high-asset divorces? → To investigate finances, uncover hidden assets, and value complex marital property
14. Research by John Gottman found that which ratio of positive to negative interactions is necessary for a marriage to remain stable? → 5:1 (five positives for every negative)
15. What is 'dissipation of marital assets' in the context of divorce? → One spouse recklessly wasting or hiding marital assets before or during divorce
16. What filing status can a recently divorced person use if they were legally divorced by December 31 of the tax year? → Single
17. What is 'imputed income' in child support calculations? → Income a court assigns to a parent it believes is voluntarily underemployed
18. Less than half of all child abuse cases presented to specialists were for __________, according to a 2006 research. → Physical or sexual abuse
19. When one spouse expresses that they feel 'more like roommates than a couple,' this statement most directly signals what? → Loss of romantic and emotional intimacy in the marriage
20. Which emotional pattern — where one partner always takes the blame to avoid conflict — can paradoxically signal that a marriage is in trouble? → Passive resignation and suppressed resentment
21. What is 'right of first refusal' in a custody agreement? → The right of one parent to care for the child before third-party childcare is used
22. Which of the following represents a social sign that a marriage may be heading toward divorce? → The couple attends social events separately more often than together
23. Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, how is alimony paid under divorce agreements finalized after December 31, 2018, treated for federal income taxes? → Not deductible by the payer and not taxable to the recipient
24. Does a spouse's fault or misconduct typically affect alimony awards? → It depends on the state — some consider fault, others do not
25. Which of the following best describes 'contempt' as a marital warning sign identified by relationship researchers? → Treating a partner with disrespect, mockery, or superiority
26. What is 'equitable distribution' in divorce? → A fair division of marital assets considering multiple factors
27. What does it mean when spouses consistently defend themselves against feedback from each other rather than listening? → They engage in defensiveness, a predictor of marital failure
28. Under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA), which state typically has jurisdiction over a custody case? → The child's 'home state,' where the child has lived for the past six months
29. A spouse receives a Roth IRA as part of a divorce settlement via a transfer incident to divorce. What are the immediate tax consequences? → No immediate tax consequences; the account retains its tax-free status
30. Until what age is a parent typically required to pay child support in most US states? → 18