Inform Yourself About Your Divorce Options
Understanding the options in divorce is a crucial first step in the divorce process.
We all know someone who has been through a divorce. We may have even discussed their cases with them, so that we know a little more about what happened during the process. These individuals may have relayed very important tips or concerns about divorce, in the hopes that others will not make the same mistakes that they did at such a critical time.
If you are considering ending your marriage, there are several things that you must do in order to ensure that you are able to protect the things that are most important to you. For most couples, the biggest issues that will need to address concern child custody and the division of marital property, and the more you know about these issues, the better prepared you can be for your divorce.
You divorced friends may discuss their custody cases with you, but you need to be sure that you understand that each situation is unique. Each divorce will be examined on its own. What happened in other cases may not happen in your case, so you need to receive advice that is tailored specifically for you and your situation from an experienced attorney. This can help both you and your spouse reach an agreement that keeps both parents involved in the lives of the children.
When dividing marital property, you may have major assets that will need to be discussed. If you and your spouse own a home, you need to determine what will happen to this property after the divorce. You may have to sell the home in order to facilitate a property division agreement that works for both sides.
The retirement accounts belonging to you and your spouse will be one of the most contentious issues in the entire divorce. You need to know that even though the money may have been earned by one spouse, if it was acquired during the marriage, it will belong to both parties. There are many items that will be need to be discussed in order to find an agreement here, so be sure that you are informed about your options at this time.
There is also the issue of alimony. If one spouse has consistently brought most of the money to the marriage, then the other spouse likely has a claim for alimony. Alimony is spousal support paid by the breadwinning spouse to the non-breadwinning spouse for a period of time during the pendency of divorce, and after the divorce is finalized. An experienced attorney will be able to help determine a fair amount of alimony in each unique divorce.
You may feel that your soon-to-be ex-spouse is offering reasonable solutions to your outstanding issues. You need to know that you have rights, and it is important that you take advantage of these protections. Simply deciding to agree to his or her requests may bring an end to the divorce, but, it could cause serious long-term problems for you that you may not be able to foresee.
Before you make any decisions about your divorce, speak to an attorney about your specific situation. Decisions concerning child custody and the division of marital property have long-lasting effects, and you need to be sure that you understand what these choices will mean for your future.
Your lawyer will provide you with the crucial guidance you need throughout the process. This will enable you to make sound and informed decisions about what you want to happen during your divorce.
