For good or for ill, the economy is affecting divorce decisions. The most important way that I see an effect is in “opportunity”. In the stock market, the real estate market and the business market, there may be a good time to find good value in bad times. Savvy investors know when a stock, a property or a business is undervalued, and the ones that have the opportunity and the means to take advantage of it will be better-served, financially.
How is this related to divorce? The spouse that wants the house, the business, the stock portfolio, etc, will pay less for it now. An asset that was once valued much higher may be worth less now, and a spouse wanting to keep that asset can buy out their ex-spouse for less than before. In a first appointment with a divorce lawyer, a client should be sure to ask about their financial options, especially in the current economy.