If you're under age 35, you may not remember R&B/Blues icon Johnny Taylor's 1973 smash hit, "Cheaper to Keep Her." The catchy tune was directed at married men and advised against leaving a relationship. With a cool, but stern tone - Taylor warned men about the financial ramifications of walking out on a family. Maybe he had a good point.

Not all divorces cause headaches, but bad ones often become serious migraines. Splitting houses, personal property, bank accounts and family obligations can leave some men wondering if it's better to just stay and deal with the issues.

Recent high-profile breakups including basketball pioneers Michael Jordan and Shaquille O'Neal, have forced many men think about how they would handle monetary obligations such as alimony, court costs and other headaches associated with divorce. Jordan and his wife Juanita divorced in December 2006 after 17 years of marriage -- prompting a settlement that surpassed the $160 million mark.

Married men and single men everywhere cringed.

There is absolutely no doubt Juanita Jordan was a supportive wife and a wonderful mother to their three children. She was a rock during the years when Michael struggled on and off the court. She got through a gambling scandal, two retirements (and subsequent returns to the NBA), and several claims that Michael committed adultery over the years. But many people wonder -- were past obligations as a mother, loyalty to her husband, and future peace-of-mind really worth hundreds of millions?

Apparently they were.

Cases like the Jordan's strike a raw nerve with men who feel the justice system unfairly rewards women for being supportive wives when in reality many have not been. Even though the legal process was intended to require that fathers compensate the families they leave behind, the courts seldom dictate how monies should be spent and many men don't trust the system.

Additionally -- some women confuse child support  with spousal support. Spousal support (alimony) is designed to provide the lower income spouse with living expenses -- which is a monetary amount usually decided by a judge. Child support is simply a mathematical formula based on income and determines the amount that should be paid to support children. Problems creep in when women use child support payments to comfort themselves and support their own personal agendas.

Hostility and anger sometimes cloud the divorce picture and this causes some men to want to protect their financial assets. Unreported income, changing city or state residence, and simply refusing to abibe by court orders are just some of the ways men avoid their financial responsibilities. Total avoidance eventually causes strife between the former couple and may also begin to affect the well-being of their children. At this point, the father may earn the "deadbeat dad" label -- and justifiably so.

One recommendation supported by marriage counselors is for couples to find working solutions to a divorce -- which can be extremely important when kids are involved. A working financial solution means either the husband or wife makes committed, monthly payments to support the upbringing of their children. Other working solutions involve weekly or monthly visitation, supporting school activities, and sharing extended family responsibilities (i.e. holidays, in-law visits). All of these are accomplished outside the judicial system and without any legal bindings.

Working solutions are usually successful with separated couples who still want the best for their children, and refuse to allow bitterness towards each other to influence their decision making.

Aside from celebrity cases where athletes or entertainers are required to pay excessive amounts in child support, most men can't afford to shell out $10,000/month for a single child. Men who are required to make monthly payments based on their income should consider all options that keep them away from the courtroom.

Would it be cheaper to stay together in situations where child or spousal support is being forced?

Maybe. But relationships don't always work out and being bound by money, or the fear of losing money is never a smart choice.

The interesting thing about divorce is... in order for it to be truly successful, some couples must try to do something they had trouble doing while married -- learn to work together.