Maintaining a happy marriage does not only provide you emotional benefits. Indeed, enjoying your married life will make you feel happy and content. However, one of the biggest advantages of being happily married is that it helps you achieve financial stability. If you and your partner are compatible, both of you will grow as a person. This includes gaining knowledge about handling money and improving your finances. Thus, when couples end up deciding to end their marriage, both of them usually suffer. Aside from the emotional stress, they also struggle with financial struggles. Thus, if you want to avoid these issues, you and your partner should do everything you can to save your marriage.
Choosing Divorce over Marriage
Although choosing marriage seems to be a practical choice, there are scenarios when couples don’t have a choice but to choose to go separate ways. According to the American Psychological Association, around 40 to 50% of couples get divorced in the United States. Here are some of the common reasons why this happens:
- Infidelity
- Financial issues
- Lack of commitment
- Compatibility issues
- Abuse
Some couples have other reasons for divorce. However, the common culprit why a marriage ends is major differences and couples’ inability to compromise. Thus, even when they try to communicate their thoughts and emotions, they still end up having constant arguments. Others grow out of love because of a lack of commitment and time spent for the marriage. Regardless of the reasons, you need to learn how to deal with the separation process.
Dealing with Financial Challenges during Divorce
Dealing with separation is a devastating experience for both parties. It’s an emotional roller coaster because you will feel anger, grief, frustration, and disappointment. Thus, before you go over your divorce documents, you need to ensure that you are prepared to face all the challenges that go along with it. One of the essential processes that you need to deal with is overcoming financial challenges during separation.
Keep in mind that divorce can last for weeks, but for other cases, it can even last for years. With this in mind, you need to anticipate the possible financial challenges you need to deal with. Here are a few scenarios that you need to prepare for:
- Dividing assets/ property—When you get married, you and your spouse usually own all the properties together. This means what’s yours is also owned by your partner and vice versa. Unfortunately, when you get a divorce, you need to decide which properties remain yours and which ones will be transferred to your wife or husband.
- Talking about retirement—You may find it difficult to settle things, especially if you have joint savings or retirement plans. To minimize financial risks and struggles, try your best to divide the wealth appropriately. If needed, you can help each other make all the needed changes on your joint accounts, insurance, and retirement plans.
- Dealing with debts—You need to divide debts accordingly so both of you will not suffer from major financial issues. Work together so you can both pay off pending fees and other financial obligations. When in doubt, ask your lawyer to help you in dividing debts accordingly. Remember, both of you are responsible for settling debts regardless of whether you stay married or decide to get divorced.
- Addressing tax issues—When you get divorced, certain tax rules will affect your finances. Thus, you must educate yourself about tax requirements for divorced couples. This will be useful, especially if you have kids and other dependents.
- Providing financial support—If you have kids, you also need to think about their future. Remember, you and your partner are both responsible for ensuring that the kids get whatever they need. Thus, you need to have a healthy discussion about continuing with providing financial support to the children.
These common financial issues need to be addressed accordingly so you can continue leading a good life. Indeed, dealing with divorce can be devastating because it can bring too much stress, anxiety, and even depression. However, you need to stay calm and do your best to ensure that the separation process will not negatively impact your life. Even if you are going separate ways, you and your partner should settle things peacefully.
Try your best to retain the respect you have for each other. This way, you don’t carry any emotional burden even after the divorce gets settled. Aside from this, you can protect each other from experiencing further financial problems. Don’t hesitate to work with a trusted divorce attorney so that you can avoid other complicated issues. Also, you can ensure that the separation process gets done quickly and efficiently.
