In a world where we have such things as detention without trial, control orders and a senior judge who prosecuted the Birmingham Six, it is sometimes hard to remember how laws come about.

A lot of the rules which govern our lives developed over the years from the teachings of whichever church was established in the country at the time.

A divorce battle between Russian billionaire fertilizer mogul Dmitri Rybolovlev and his wife has washed up on the shores of Palm Beach.

The wife, Elena Rybolovlev, is flinging allegations of infidelity. She's also fighting to seize 50 percent of the couple's marital assets, which she estimates to be worth between $6 billion and $12 billion.

Courts should choose joint physical custody of children by both parents as the first option in divorce, according to a Lancaster-based group lobbying for a change in state law.

A divorce battle between Russian billionaire fertilizer mogul Dmitri Rybolovlev and his wife has washed up on the island.

The wife, Elena Rybolovlev, is flinging allegations of infidelity. She's also fighting to seize 50 percent of the couple's marital assets, which she estimates to be worth between $6 billion and $12 billion.

Usher has officially filed for divorce from his wife Tameka Foster Raymond.

R&B star Usher and his wife are reportedly planning to divorce after almost two years of marriage.

The Yeah! hitmaker and stylist Tameka Foster have been living apart for the past year, according to U.S. publication In Touch.

LOS ANGELES - Disgraced slugger Barry Bonds has fouled out with second wife, Liz Watson.

Watson, married to Bonds since 1998, has filed for legal separation in Los Angeles County Superior Court, a court officer confirmed.

NINETIES supermodel Stephanie Seymour, who is in the middle of a bitter divorce, has been allegedly assaulted by her billionaire husband's security guard.

The already messy divorce got even nastier after US police arrested one of Peter Brant's private security guards for allegedly shoving his estranged wife, Seymour, into a door during an argument.

 divorce, argument, assault

The young Egyptian actress Hanan Turk revealed that she did get married and gave birth a few weeks ago to a baby boy, Muhammad, and is now getting a divorce.

Turk said that she did get married according to Islamic beliefs.

DEAR CAROLYN: After 13 years of marriage and several children, my son found a girlfriend, and now the once- loving couple are getting a divorce.

My son has distanced himself from us while my daughter-in-law calls for support and encouragement. Son rarely takes our calls and makes no effort to visit, while soon-to-be-former-daughter-in-law actively seeks our company.

Financial adviser and certified divorce financial analyst Jon Kagan will present a free, educational seminar June 16 about the financial aspects of divorces.

The seminar, "Gaining Financial Control of Your Divorce," is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. in Heritage Hall at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St.

I agree with Andrew J. Cherlin that this is a time when families must pull together (“Married With Bankruptcy,” Op-Ed, May 29).

Clearly the recession makes the situation more difficult when couples want to get divorced and cannot afford to maintain two households. Parents of the divorced couple are often the light in a storm during a marital crisis. They provide love and support by putting out the welcome mat, opening their purse and spending more time babysitting.

On the day a couple promises to love each other for eternity, the future appears bright and idyllic; the reality that one or the other might someday want out seems remote.

Still, national statistics indicate some 40 percent of all marriages end in divorce. Even with the recent tough economy, the divorce rate has remained relatively steady.

WHEN C. C. married C. M. in Massachusetts in 2005, they expected the marriage to be forever. The lesbian couple, who lived together on the Upper East Side, had been in a relationship for five years.

“We had an incredible relationship,” recalled C. M., 39. “We had a very strong foundation.”

U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk's office has announced the Republican congressman and his wife are divorcing.

Kirk and Kimberly Ann Vertolli have been married eight years. The divorce becomes final on Monday.

Kirk is in his fifth term representing 10th district in the suburbs north of Chicago.

He has said he's considering running in 2010 for governor or for the Senate seat held by Democrat Roland Burris.

The week just keeps getting better for headlines surrounding rappers and R&B divas. If it's not Nas preventing Kelis from getting his fortune, or Drake denying he was "sipping apple juice and whiskey" with Rihanna, superstar producer Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys are dealing with their own tabloid hell.

An art historian and author today failed to win a £500,000 divorce settlement from his wealthy former wife whose grandchildren he sexually abused.

High Court judge Mr Justice Moylan said the "circumstances of this case are such that it would be inequitable for the wife to make any financial provision for the husband".

Actor Barry Bostwick is to divorce his wife of 14 years.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show star and his second wife Sherri cite “irreconcilable differences” for the split, in papers filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday.

Kelis isn't whipping up any more milkshakes for Nas.

The pregnant R&B songstress is looking to divorce her hip-hop star hubby of more than four years, E! News confirmed Thursday.

"You never know how strong you are until being strong is (the) only choice you have," the 18-year-old wrote.

In a worrying trend, the number of couples seeking divorce is on the rise in the conservative city of Chennai with younger generation, particularly the stress-prone IT professionals, breaking marriages even on trivial issues.

GENESEE COUNTY, Michigan -- After 26 years of marriage, Renita Worthington was ready to move on.

The economy, however, didn't make it easy.

The beating the stock market took last year, coupled with the crash of the housing market, left Worthington and her ex with a lot less to divvy up when they parted ways last year.

Breaking up is hard to do and it can be even harder in a bad economy.

Lawyers say divorce rates are dropping because people simply can't afford to part ways right now.

If there’s one thing Reese Witherspoon knows, it’s holiday angst.

A divorced mother of two, the actress has to gear up for the merry marathon like everyone else.

“There’s many stages,” she said. “First is panic. Absolute panic. I walked into Starbucks, and they were playing Christmas music and I was like, ‘Turn it off! I have to get through Thanksgiving first.’ ”

Editor’s note: The information in this column is not intended as legal advice but to provide a general understanding of the law. Readers with legal problems, including those whose questions are addressed here, should consult attorneys for advice on their particular circumstances.

Q. My wife and I are getting a divorce.

We have always had separate bank accounts and both have separately purchased certificates of deposit. On my CDs, the words “separate property” were written after my name, and when I cashed the CDs, the words followed my name in the paperwork.

London's Evening Standard says Alex Rodriguez, the tycoon ballplayer, is about to close on an $80-million penthouse on Manhattan's Central Park West, just two blocks from where Madonna lives. The usual un-named source told the paper that "all he cares about is just being close to her."

Believe this if you want, but personally I don't buy it. First of all, she's not in New York, she's in London and staying there because the kids like it. Second, she's 50 and Alex is 33.

TV fashion guru Trinny Woodall and her husband cut miserable figures today following the announcement of their divorce.

Move over, Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards -- Hollywood is facing another ugly breakup.

The second wife of Wilmette native Bill Murray has filed for divorce after nearly 11 years of marriage -- and her list of complaints is scathing.

NEW YORK - We're the YouTube Generation, living in the YouTube Era, in a YouTube World. And now we apparently have a YouTube Divorce.

Some prominent New York divorce lawyers couldn't think of another case where a spouse -- in this instance, the wife of a major Broadway theater operator -- had taken to YouTube to spill the secrets of a marriage in an apparent effort to gain leverage and humiliate the other side.

LOS ANGELES — It's not easy being Al Reynolds these days.

The soon-to-be ex-husband of Star Jones says he's "been called a gigolo, a freeloader, unemployed, a sham and many other things that don't bear repeating" since Jones filed for divorce in March.

A judge in London has granted a preliminary decree of divorce for former Beatle Paul McCartney and Heather Mills.

Justice Hugh Bennett says the divorce could be finalized in six weeks plus a day. He already has awarded Mills a settlement of $47.5 million.

Carson City District Judge Bill Maddox noted in his order that the governor didn't oppose the venue change to Washoe County District Court.