WHAT CAN AND CANNOT BE ACCOMPLISHED WITH DIVORCE

On behalf of The Law Offices of Mary Ann Beaty, PC posted in Divorce on Wednesday, February 24, 2016.

When Texas residents decide to divorce, many emotions can arise. Every situation is different, and depending on the circumstances, divorce can be a major decision and one that can be extremely difficult to decide upon. Before couples arrive at the decision, there are many questions that often must be asked and many issues that must be clarified.

Often, soon-to-be divorced couples desire to know what can and cannot be accomplished with divorce. Having realistic expectations can help spouses decide on the best course of action. The major components that can be settled in divorce are property division, support obligation, and child custody and visitation. Property division involves the division of assets and debts and will ultimately decide who will get to own what following the divorce. These assets can include anything from the family home to the family pet.

Support obligations, such as child support and alimony, can also be settled. The court will determine whether or not it is appropriate for one spouse to receive monthly payments from the other spouse in the form of child support or alimony (or both). What’s more, the court may decide on which parent will have primary custody of the child, as well as the visitation schedule of the non-custodial parent. The parents may also decide to share joint custody.

However, there are a number of things that divorce cannot accomplish. Divorce cannot guarantee a mathematically precise division of assets and custody time. It also cannot ensure civil relations between the partners, nor can it replace therapy or otherwise resolve any emotional issues the couple may have.

With realistic expectations of what can and cannot be accomplished in divorce, spouses can often approach the process with a clearer head. Attorneys are available to help ensure that those things that can be accomplished in divorce are handled in the best manner possible.

Source: FindLaw, “What is divorce good for?,” accessed on Feb. 23, 2016