ABSTRACT
An investigation was conducted by the author into concessions of rightful property, child support and maintenance awards from ex-spouses under pressures from emotional blackmail or coercion. Information was obtained from legal and sociological literature, divorce records in Hennepin County, Minnesota, along with informal interviews with one attorney and eight divorced women. Spousal attempts at coercion during divorce negotiations may influence some women to make stipulations, agreements honored by the court, to less child support, property and/or maintenance than suggested guidelines or if they were to litigate those matters through the court system. This has economic, theoretical, therapeutic and research implications.
