How does divorce affect lifestyle?

Preparing to withstand your divorce and rebuild afterward is a difficult process. Many individuals do not fully comprehend the scope of a divorce at first, and poor legal counsel may focus on saving some particular asset or right rather than looking at the larger picture of how the divorce may affect a client’s overall lifestyle. It is important to work with your attorney to make sure that you truly understand how your divorce affects each area of your life so that you do not get caught off guard by the process.

For most individuals, unless they are rather wealthy, divorce will have a serious impact on their lifestyle. If you and your spouse both have relatively equal incomes and no children, and can decide on fair and simple property division that doesn’t impose undue burden on one party or the other, you still face the difficulty of transitioning to single adult life again, which can be jarring.

However, most individuals do not have such a simple divorce experience. In fact, it is often the aftermath of a divorce and not the process itself that creates difficulties as you try to rebuild you life.

It is always wise to consult with your attorney thoroughly about how you can anticipate any and all changes to your lifestyle so that you can prepare appropriately. This is especially true if your divorce is likely to involve some form of alimony or child support, or if you anticipate splitting some important assets that could affect your saving and investing.

For instance, you may have to divide the value of a business, stifling your income, or you may be the spouse keeping your home, but suddenly face the reality of maintaining the home and paying for all the mortgage, tax and utility costs on a single income.

Whatever your circumstances, it is important to approach divorce with proper preparation. Do not hesitate to reach out to an experienced attorney to ensure that you truly understand the scope of your divorce and to keep your rights secure through the process.

Source: CNBC.com, “Headed for divorce court? Here are your top 5 financial musts,” Andrew Osterland, accessed June 02, 2017