Divorce is in itself a huge legal issue, but it is also the culmination of many smaller legal issues that you need to address before the entire process can move forward. A typical divorce lasts about one year, but it can last a lot longer if you do not take some related issues into consideration before you bring your decision to court. Here are three of the biggest legal problems you need to address before a divorce.
Type of Divorce
In the majority of divorces, the decision to split is unilateral. That means that one party wants to divorce while the other does not. Unfortunately, that can lead to some pretty sticky situations, including what type of divorce you will ultimately have to go through. If you are unsure about your options, here are a few different types of divorce to discuss with your spouse and your divorce lawyers:
- Collaborative Divorce
- Mediated Divorce
- No-Fault Divorce
- Summary Divorce
- Default Divorce
- Contested Divorce
Custody
Family law offices can help parents determine the custody needs of their child or children, but this is absolutely something that needs to be addressed before a divorce even begins. Things like the education, visitation rights, and other expenses of a child should at least be discussed privately before a child custody lawyer becomes involved in the process.
Most lawyers advise parents to come to a decision about custody together with the help of a custody lawyer. If no agreement can be decided on, the court will take a number of different factors into consideration and come to a decision that will best benefit your child or children.
Finances
Even though a divorce may be happening, things like the mortgage and utility bills still need to get paid. Your children still need food, clothing, and education as well. Financial issues like these most definitely need to be addressed before the divorce process begins. Of course, they can be solidified with the help of an attorney, but arguments in court can lead to a prolonged divorce and even more money thrown at lawyers and courts.
No matter how amicable or heated a divorce may be, it is incredibly important to address these three key issues before going to court. They could end up saving you a huge chunk of time in the long run.