© 2024 Law Office of Sarina Gianna, LLC.
All rights reserved. Attorney advertising.
What unique set of challenges do stay-at-home parents face during a divorce?
Deciding to end a marriage is never easy. However, the choice can be even more difficult for stay-at-home parents, as they often are not the “breadwinners” of the family. This causes them to remain in unhappy marriages due to their financial concerns. Stay-at-home parents typically put their careers on hold and dedicate much of their daily lives to caring for their families. Nowadays, many couples are structuring their families around a stay-at-home parent model. That said, stay-at-home parents must understand how they can protect their rights when divorcing as they face unique challenges. If you are a stay-at-home parent, it is in your best interest to retain the legal services of a trusted Ocean County Divorce Attorney who can help you prepare for the impending legal process and protect your future.
How can I protect my rights as a stay-at-home parent during a divorce?
Firstly, the best way to prepare yourself for a divorce as a stay-at-home parent is to schedule a consultation with a seasoned attorney who can help you consider the options available for ending your marriage. Most stay-at-home parents worry about the cost of divorce and feel inclined to agree to unfavorable settlement terms to avoid a prolonged legal battle. However, alternative divorce routes can save you time and money. Instead of pursuing a contested divorce, you can opt for an uncontested divorce. If you cannot agree to all of the terms that will apply to the termination of your marriage, you can turn to divorce mediation, where a third-party mediator will help you reach a mutual agreement on the terms that will apply to the termination of your marriage.
Once you have found the best divorce route for your specific needs to end your marriage, you should gather your household financial information. During a divorce, nothing is worse than being in the dark about your financial situation. Although you may not handle the bills, it is imperative to clearly understand your household financial information as it will help you prevent your spouse from hiding assets. Additionally, it will help you have. Better look at your post-divorce family budget.
Furthermore, it would be best to create an inventory of all your personal and family possessions. Having a list will help you understand what you may be entitled to receive during property division. New Jersey is an equitable distribution state, meaning the marital property is fairly split between a divorcing couple. However, that does not necessarily mean an even 50/50 split. To ensure your personal property accumulated outside of the marriage is not split during the division of assets, you should have a list of your separate property. To provide you reach fair property distribution, you must have a good understanding of the assets accumulated during the marriage, as they are subject to equitable distribution.
Ultimately, the best way for stay-at-home parents to protect their rights during a divorce is by retaining the legal services of a determined Ocean County divorce attorney from the Law Office of Sarina Gianna, LLC. Our firm is committed to helping our clients reach favorable divorce settlements that help them start their new lives with a clean slate.
