What Should You Consider As You Contemplate Divorce?
If you are considering divorce but have not made up your mind, there are some things to think about as you make your decision. Being fully prepared for the divorce process includes answering the following questions about your family's situation:
What Approach Will You Take in Your Divorce?
There is no clear-cut method to divorce. Each case is unique with its own set of challenges. You need to think about how you will approach your divorce as you move forward. For example, if you and your spouse are amicable, you can opt to settle most of your terms through mediation. You simply meet with your spouse and each of your attorneys to negotiate the terms of your divorce, such as custody, child support, asset division, and other financial issues.
If you and your spouse are not in a good enough place for mediation, you should consider going through with a traditional divorce proceeding. You and your attorneys will work on your case and go before a judge to finalize your divorce terms.
As you decide how you will approach the divorce, consider your spouse and how they will react to the process. If you are unable to discuss the business of your marriage calmly and without argument, you should never communicate without your attorney present. This keeps everything easy and manageable.
How Will You Deal With Your Children?
If you and your spouse have children together, you need to think about their reactions and the overall impact on them. When you get a divorce, you need to think about where you will live, who will get the family home, whether you will sell the family home, and when the children will see each parent.
This is one of the hardest parts of a divorce. For that reason, you need to think carefully about your desired outcome when it comes to your children. You also have to take your spouse's outcome into consideration as well so you know what to expect.
What About Money?
Another important consideration when thinking about divorce is financial matters. As you ponder divorce, you need to know how your finances will change once you are no longer a couple. If you co-mingled your finances, this can take some time. You need to have access to your bank accounts, retirement accounts, debts owed, and all your assets. In addition, you need to figure out how you will support yourself, particularly if you are a stay-at-home parent or do not earn enough money to support yourself. You and your attorney will discuss spousal support and whether or not you can receive it based on your circumstances.
Divorce is never easy. Think about all of these issues as you contemplate your decision. Be sure to speak to a divorce or family attorney if you have any questions.