Marriage is a big decision, and before entering into that legal partnership with your spouse, you may want to take steps to protect your rights, your property, and your finances. In many cases, a prenuptial agreement can be beneficial for both spouses. However, before entering into a premarital agreement, you will need clarification on what can and cannot be included in the prenup. Discussing your thoughts and ideas with an experienced family law attorney will ensure that you understand how to create an agreement that meets your needs.  

Personal Matters

Before getting married, you may want to address how certain matters will be handled between you and your spouse. While a prenup may include certain rules about personal issues such as chores, holiday plans, friendships, or hobbies, these terms will typically not be legally enforceable. For example, you may want to make an agreement about who will be responsible for cooking and cleaning, but a prenup cannot impose penalties if one spouse fails to abide by these arrangements. You should speak to your attorney to discuss whether to include these types of terms in your prenup.

If you are a newly-single parent adapting to life after divorce, moving on may be difficult, and you may be dealing with negative feelings toward your ex-spouse. Although it can be difficult to put those feelings aside, fostering the growth and development of your child should continue to be your primary goal. One dreaded scenario that may arise is meeting your ex’s new partner. This can be a challenging and stressful situation, but you will likely want to make an effort to get to know that person, as they will be a significant party in your child’s life. The following three tips can help the three of you work together as co-parents toward a happy and healthy upbringing for your child:

Understand the Position You Are in

You are likely to have mixed emotions about your ex’s new relationship, and this may lead to confusion for your child. The behaviors and feelings displayed by a parent can shape the thoughts and actions of children. Even though you may not be happy about meeting and dealing with your former spouse’s new partner, being willing to get to know them can be a good example for your child, encouraging them to form new relationships and branch out to meet new people. Ultimately, you cannot control what your ex does in their personal life, but demonstrating acceptance of their new partner will likely promote your child’s happiness and well-being in both households.

Feelings of anxiety and stress are common for any couple which is moving forward with the dissolution of their marriage. A divorce can be a complex matter which can have a lasting effect on everyone involved. Going into a divorce, most people are unfamiliar with the steps involved, the legal requirements that must be met, and the length of time needed. Dissolving a marriage is never fun, and you may want to get your divorce over with as quickly as possible. However, there are certain factors that can cause the divorce process to go on longer, and so working with a knowledgeable divorce attorney is essential to ensure the process can conclude in a timely matter.

Is Your Divorce Contested or Uncontested?

While there is likely to be some level of disagreement between almost all divorcing spouses, determining what areas may cause the most contentious disputes can help take some of the surprises out of the process. Compromise is crucial during divorce, and if you and your ex-spouse are able to work together to reach a divorce settlement, this can save a great deal of time and money. If you can make the decision to “pick your battles,” you may be able to avoid long, drawn-out disputes. However, there may be some issues that you will be unable to resolve between the two of you, and so regarding those issues, it may be necessary to have the court make those decisions for you.

A married person may consider divorce as an option for leaving a stressful or unhappy relationship and getting a fresh start. Agreeing to dissolve a marriage can be a difficult choice, since a person may be unwilling to give up the unity and love that brought the couple together. The divorce process will require spouses to identify and resolve the legal issues that must be addressed when ending their marriage, including the allocation of parental responsibilities (formerly known as child custody), child support, and the division of marital property. However, the complexity that might be involved in resolving these matters could be a negative for some couples, and ending the marriage could also lead to unwanted attention or embarrassment for either spouse. For spouses who are considering divorce but are unsure about whether to proceed with the end of their marriage, consulting with a skilled family law attorney could identify some alternative options.      

Can Marriage Counseling Be Beneficial?

Working together with a marriage counselor is an option that a couple may be willing to try once issues arise that threaten the relationship. However, the success of these types of sessions will depend on the amount of time and effort each spouse is willing to put in. While counseling may help some couples save their marriage, research has shown that approximately 38% of married couples get divorced within four years of attending marital counseling.

While the results of marriage counseling can vary drastically depending on a couple’s situation, it is still one of the most common routes taken by couples in crisis. Factors such as abuse, financial issues, and the loss of attraction could all result in counseling not being successful in repairing a relationship. In some cases, therapy may help one or both spouses realize that the marriage is beyond repair or that divorce is the best option.