Divorce is rarely an easy process. The thought of the challenges presented by marriage dissolution might leave you feeling uncertain about whether you truly want to end your marriage.
But you shouldn’t let your fear of the process dissuade you from acting to get out of a toxic or otherwise dangerous relationship. Your well-being is simply too important. Also, you can properly prepare for the difficulties ahead. One way to start is by identifying the challenges that you’re likely to face, that way you truly know what to expect from the process and can figure out effective ways to deal with them.
The biggest challenges you could face in your divorce
No two divorces are the same, and as such the difficulties that you’ll face in your marriage dissolution are going to be unique to your circumstances. However, there are some common issues that people face in divorce. Let’s look at some of them so that you can ready yourself for what you’ll have to face moving forward:
- Emotional upheaval: Untangling your life from the one that you’ve built with your spouse over the course of several years can be heartbreaking. You might be angry at your spouse for actions that led to your marriage’s failure or for how they’ve responded to the divorce filing, or you might feel like you’ve been belittled, forgotten, or taken advantage of. These are certainly difficult feelings to process, but you can get a better handle on them by taking time to focus on yourself and plan for the future. You can also surround yourself with loved ones who are ready to support you, as well as seek out counseling or therapy to assist you in developing coping strategies. Just do your best to avoid having your emotions cloud your judgment during the divorce process.
- Financial stress: Your divorce is a financial transaction. If improperly handled, you could be left at a financial disadvantage. It’s practically guaranteed that you’re going to have a lower household income when all is said and done, which can generate a lot of stress and worry. To alleviate some of your concerns, create a post-divorce budget and develop a divorce legal strategy that seeks your fair share of the marital estate. If it looks like you’re still going to be shorted, then you may want to consider seeking spousal support.
- Concerns about children: If you have children, then a custody dispute may be on the horizon. The outcome of your custody fight can have a tremendous impact on your children, too, affecting everything from where they go to school, what environment they’re exposed to, and the amount of time they get to spend with you. You might have to deal with parental alienation and other tactics that seek to skew the court’s determination. To avoid a bad outcome for your children, develop legal arguments that focus on their best interests and that highlight any of the other parent’s parental shortcomings.
Build your divorce case with confidence
We know the divorce process can feel completely overwhelming. But you can alleviate some of the stress that you’re feeling by developing a sound legal strategy that advocates for an outcome that positions you for post-divorce success. So, use your worries as a motivating factor to get to work building the divorce case that you need on your side.