Couples throughout Washington who are moving forward with a divorce will have many issues to address. Some cases are relatively amicable while others are rife with disagreement. Regardless, there are fundamental challenges that people who are confronted with family law issues may face. It is important to be fully prepared.
Many divorce cases have similar mistakes
Although every case is different, there are certain mistakes that happen in many divorces. These can be financial, emotional and personal. Property division and finances are a common source of difficulty. With property, it is wise to understand the concept of equitable distribution. It does not mean that marital property is divided in half; instead, it means that the court determines how to fairly split the property. Financially, people may not realize that the dual-income and sharing of expenses in a marriage made it easier to pay bills and make purchases. Supporting oneself on a single income requires making changes.
Also, married couples tend to have joint accounts and debt. These should be separated, and attention must be paid to the accumulation of joint debt. Taxes after divorce can be challenging as well. For example, if there are children, one parent may be able to claim support as a deduction. Selling property during a divorce can result in tax implications, so these issues should be assessed.
If a couple is getting divorced, there were problems in the relationship. Once the decision is made to part ways, communication may suffer. Though it will likely be hard, civility can go a long way toward reaching a reasonable settlement, saving money and reducing stress. Adversarial situations increase the chance of a court battle, which takes time and costs more. Negotiation and flexibility are generally preferable to endless dispute.
Full preparation may require legal advice
To help prevent these and other frequently arising problems from having a negative impact, it may be beneficial to have legal advice from a knowledgeable family law attorney. Calling for a consultation and representation may help with a tense situation during a divorce.
