Have you and your spouse decided that you're no longer compatible? Are the two of you thinking that your best option is going to be to get divorced? Even if you mutually agree that divorce is the best option, actually filing the paperwork can be tricky. Before you agree to sign any divorce papers, it's a good idea to consult with a lawyer first. Although everything may initially seem simple, some reasons that you'll actually want to talk to a divorce lawyer first include:
Property division: Divorce is seldom as simple as saying that you'll take your stuff and your spouse will take their stuff and everything will be fine. While you might hope that's what will happen, the reality is that some people can get stuck on and bicker over relatively minor things due to the emotions that are running high during the divorce case. A good divorce lawyer will provide an objective view as to whether or not it's really worth fighting over a particular item or whether you should perhaps step back and save your arguments for something that is of more value to you personally.
Custody arrangements: If you have children, it is especially important that you consult with a divorce lawyer. Even though you and your spouse may be in agreement over who should get custody right now, things can change. If your spouse is injured or is otherwise unable to fulfill his or her side of the custody arrangement, what will happen to the children? These are things that an experienced lawyer will help you to put into writing. For instance, if you're too busy to look after the kids yourself, you might want the divorce decree to specify that the kids will be looked after by trusted relatives if your soon-to-be-ex-spouse is unable to continue caring for them, either temporarily or on a permanent basis.
Spousal support: In some states, various outdated divorce laws can mean that the wife may automatically be owed spousal support even if she has a high paying job and the husband has a lower paying job. This can often be a significant chunk of the husband's current salary. Whether you are the wife and find this to be an insult or you are the husband and think that this is unfair, an experienced divorce lawyer can help you to avoid having to pay or to be paid spousal support that isn't deserved.
Share20 December 2018
When I began the divorce process, I knew that I wanted to change my name back to my maiden name. I no longer wanted to be associated with the family name of the man that I was divorcing. The problem was, I have three kids that all had their father's name. I wanted to know if I would be able to change their last names to my maiden name rather than having them carry that family's name for the rest of their lives. I found out a lot about what it would take and began working to create this blog to help other women wanting to do the same thing.
