You probably know by now that one in two marriages ends in divorce, and if you're like most spouses at the end of their rope, you may have already been through the fighting, crying, and trying to "make things work."
Now that it's clear that you can't win the battle to save your marriage, you'll soon realize that divorce comes down to two things: children and money. If you don't have infants or school-aged children, then it's about the latter.
Some studies (one article discusses them here) found that the average woman experiences a 73 percent reduction in her standard of living as a result of divorce, while her husband's standard of living improves by 42 percent – now that's an eye opener.
If you're a woman, you don't want to end up in the 73 percent, but it can happen if you don't conduct your due diligence, or if you hire the wrong attorney that allows the divorce deliberations to drag on for too long.
If you're headed for divorce, know that rushing into things, or not becoming informed about the divorce language or "legalese" could lead to long-term financial consequences, and that's an especially bad thing if you have kids.
If you don't understand the divorce language, or if your strong suits are not finances, negotiations, or confrontation, you need a good divorce attorney now more than ever. Without one, you're akin to a lost tourist without a map, and nobody wants to be that person.
You've heard the terms legal separation, move-away-orders, temporary orders, child support, spousal support, restraining orders, domestic violence, and paternity, but what do they all mean?
Also, what your best friend got in their divorce settlement has zero to do with what you'll get in yours; no two divorces are identical, so remember that.
If You Have Kids, Heed This Advice
If you have children, your divorce settlement will affect them directly, and for years to come. Not only will it affect their "quality of life," but it will affect their views on marriage, divorce, their parents, and family as a whole.
Reaching a "fair" divorce settlement will be the first step towards achieving a friendly and respectful post-divorce relationship with your ex. You can't really expect that kind of an amicable relationship if you spend the next 10 or 15 years in and out of court battling with him or her.
Since you can't put a price on the future stability of your family and your finances, you want your divorce legacy to be one that you, your ex, and your children can live with, and we can help you with that.
To work with a Board Certified family law specialist, contact Cutter & Lax today!
