Divorce is hard. It can be emotionally upsetting because there are so many issues to be dealt with. It can become overwhelming. Five specific areas you need to be aware of are as follows:
— Parenting, that includes child custody and visitation
— Equitable property and debt distribution
— Alimony and spousal support
— Child support
— Other issues that may arise
Parenting has two differing concepts that you need to think about. The first is making major decisions regarding each child separately. Can you share custody or share major decision making with your ex-spouse?
Equitable debt and property distribution means that you divide the property you both own and also distribute the debt that you both owe as equitably as possible. If you inherited property or acquired the asset before you were married, it is yours to keep. If you have a house in common it will need to be sold and the profits split or the party staying in the home needs to make arrangements to buy the other spouse out.
Alimony, or spousal support, is seen as a need that one spouse has and an ability to pay that the other spouse has. Perhaps one parent stayed home and took care of the children while the other spouse worked. This would mean that a certain amount of money would be needed for a time period to be specified by the court to the spouse who needs job skills or education in order to get a job.
Child support is set by the court using a mathematical equation based on each spouse’s income.
There will be additional issues that come up such as life insurance, tax liability and retirement accounts that need to be discussed.
The Thompson Family Law, P.A. firm located in Fort Myers, Florida, has attorneys that are so attentive to every detail of your divorce. They will be able to answer all your questions and will bring up ideas you haven’t even begun to think of yet.
