examination and evaluation of recent changes in divorce laws in five western countries: the critical role of values

In this article, we describe recent changes in divorce laws in the United States, England and Wales, France, and Sweden in the areas of obtaining a divorce, spousal support, child support, and child custody. Although there are important differences among countries, there are some common trends. Divorce has become increasingly easy to obtain; spousal support has become less common; efforts have been made to increase child support awards and to improve payment compliance; and shared parental decision-making authority has become increasingly accepted and encouraged. We discuss the relation between individuals' values and their evaluations of the effects of changes in divorce laws on family members, as well as the relation between legal change and cultural values.