Getting married can feel complicated, but it’s a breeze compared to the process of getting divorced. It’s always easier to get out of something than it is to get into something, after all. The decision to marry is based on love and affection, while the decision to get a divorce is based on things like frustration, anger, and sheer exhaustion. People generally only get divorced after trying everything else. Divorce is never going to be mistaken for a fun process, but you can improve your odds of getting out of the marriage relatively unscathed by hiring a reputable family law attorney and doing what they tell you to do.
No-fault divorce
Every state is a no-fault divorce state by now, but that wasn’t always the case. In fact, New York became the last state to allow no-fault divorce, and that was less than a decade ago. No-fault divorce means that you and your spouse can basically go to court and say the marriage is over without having to give a specific reason. “Irreconcilable differences” is a broad category, but you don’t need to get more specific than that. You can divorce because your spouse is cheating on you or because your spouse never picks up his or her dirty socks. It probably won’t matter to the court either way. This is a major improvement from a few decades ago, when a woman who said she was being abused by her spouse had to prove it in court. Nowadays, there’s no need to mention things like abuse or adultery in divorce court filings, though you can still bring it up when you talk to your attorney. If there are children, it could play a factor in determining issues like child custody.
Be civil
Make sure to get a local attorney who is familiar with the way divorce court works in your city and state. For instance, if you’re living in Ann Arbor, Michigan, when you decide that your marriage is well and truly over, then make sure to seek out someone like this Lawyer Ann Arbor. This is especially important if there are a lot of assets involved in the marriage, and it’s absolutely critical if there are kids in the picture. Too many spouses move out of the family home and unwittingly give their estranged spouse a leg up on keeping the house. Before you start packing your things, get a free consultation with a family law attorney.
It will be tempting to go scorched earth on your ex and try to do everything possible to ruin your ex’s life, but don’t do it. You want justice, not revenge. Actually, you might also want revenge, but it’s not the important thing here. Fight for what’s yours, but try not to fight dirty unless your lawyer tells you that there’s no other choice. For instance, if your spouse falsely accuses you of child abuse, then it’s time to defend yourself vigorously. But it’s not time to accuse your spouse of having a drug problem if he or she really doesn’t. Stick to the truth and trust your lawyer to get the job done.
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