Sarah Palin's eldest son, 23-year-old Track and his wife, 22-year-old Britta, jointly filed for divorce in an Alaskan court. In Alaska, when parties file together, it indicates that they have fully settled property and custody issues, including child support. The pair was married in 2011. Track is an Army reservist and has served time over-seas in Iraq. He is also a commercial fisherman and has plans to go back to school.

The divorce papers included who got what from the parties' marriage. Track got the $30,000 Wells Fargo bank account, $500 in tools, and his $1,000 gun collection. Britta got her $2,500 bank account and her $4,000 in jewelry. Also according to the docs, Track makes $42,800 a year and has agreed to pay $642 a month in child support. The couple has agreed to split any other child-related expenses, including medical and travel.

The couple have one child, one-year-old daughter, Kyla. Apparently, Track and Britta had to watch a 48-minute video about the impact of a failed marriage on the child.

Divorce definitely has an effect on the children of the marriage. These effects can be both short-term and long-term and the effects are always something for spouses to consider when deciding to split.

Short-term effects include: your child feeling responsible for the divorce as well as changes in the child's behavior including aggression and violence which can be demonstrated towards the child's parents or friends and teachers. The child may also feel like they are being abandoned, or may experience intense feelings of grief and loss.

Although the short-term effects of divorce on a child will probably subside after the child has adjusted to the changes within their family, there are sometimes long-term effects that parents need to be aware of. For example, children of divorced parents may be more likely to suffer from drug and/or alcohol addictions, or may experience separation and/or divorce themselves.

Another important topic related to divorce and children is Parental Alienation. Parental alienation is defined as when a child demonstrates unwarranted dislike of one parent, which has often been influenced by negative comments from the other parent.

It is important for parents to always consider the effects divorce is going to have on their children. The more prepared and informed parents are regarding these effects will only help their child to go through the transitional stage they will experience.