Filing for divorce is a serious, life-altering decision that can affect both you and those around you. If you decide that your marriage isn’t worth fighting, you’ll have to aptly consider how your decision will change the dynamics of your life and your relationships. It isn’t recommended to rush into a divorce if you simply can’t resolve anything with your spouse.
However, if you and your spouse have determined that a divorce would actually be productive, the next step is to learn about the implication of your future actions. For this reason, let’s explore five integral questions you should ask before considering divorce.
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What Will Happen to My Children?
Child custody is one of the most controversial elements to obtaining a divorce, especially if you and your spouse are on unequal terms. Ideally, the individual that obtains primary custody of their children should be capable of becoming their full-time parent. In some cases, this doesn’t happen and can lead to profusive problems down the road.
Even if you aren’t currently communicating with your spouse, you should at least talk to them about your ideas on child custody. This is an important step before you can truly move forward with your divorce without any surprises.
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Can I Afford a Divorce?
Getting a divorce requires a large investment from you and your spouse. Generally speaking, anyone can state that they want a divorce, but few can actually pay for it without plummeting into financial ruin afterward.
It’s essential that you take the time to consider your current financial state and if you’re willing to take on legal fees and other associated costs. If the disadvantages of your marriage outweigh your financial issues, it’s a safe bet to assume that you may be ready to file a divorce.
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What Will Happen to My Assets?
Rudimentary legal principles define the assets obtained during a marriage as community property. Conversely, assets acquired before a marriage, or after separation, is known as separate property. If you decide to go through with your divorce, you’ll be facing some serious decisions about the community property that exists between you and your spouse.
The family home, vehicles, and other properties will have to be divided equally between you and your spouse, so it’s worth considering this standpoint before filing divorce by speaking with your attorney.
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How Will I Be Supported?
Unless you already have a stable income and job, it would be prudent to anticipate filing for spousal support if you are heading towards divorce. Since divorce is a court ruling, it’s impossible for the court to reasonably expect you to support yourself if you relied on your spouse’s income during your marriage.
This is true even if you originally filed for divorce. Speak with your attorney about conditioning spousal support in your divorce settlement to ensure that you can support yourself after separation.
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How Can I Be the Best Co-Parent?
In many cases, individuals are too consumed into their divorce proceedings and ultimately wind up completely ruining their relationship with their former spouse. Once your divorce is finalized, you should shift your focus to becoming an ideal co-parent for your children. To accomplish this goal, it’s paramount to focus on building a mutual relationship with your former spouse rather than eliminating them from your life.
Overall, filing for divorce may be what’s best for you and your family, but it would be incredibly unwise to not consider the consequences of your decision. Realizing the outcomes of your divorce could prepare you for living a productive life moving forward.
