There are a lot of myths surrounding the divorce process, which often inspire a bit of fear in those who are about to embark on this emotional and complicated endeavor. If you have never been through a divorce before, it is understandable that you might believe in many of these prevalent falsehoods or secondhand stories. However, it is crucial to debunk them to gain better insight into this process as you continue to move forward.
We debunked some of the most common myths for you here:
- If your ex-spouse does not pay child support, visitation can be denied: There are ways for the court to enforce a child support order, preventing the parent from his or her children is not one of those methods. Children are not used as pawns to punish parents for their failure to make child support payments. That said, you should endeavor to make these payments and, if you cannot, request a modification of the order.
- If you cheated on your spouse, you will lose everything in a divorce: Cheating might have been the incident that prompted your divorce, but it is certainly not going to result in you losing custody of your children, property, or assets. If you cheated on your spouse with someone who is now your current partner and he or she has a criminal record, it might have an effect on your custody rights if you plan on bringing the children around your new partner. If you cheated on your spouse and wastefully dissipated marital assets because you were showering your paramour with gifts, this could also affect the settlement you receive when it comes to dividing assets. Cheating in itself, however, will not affect the outcome of your settlement.
- Your spouse can deny a divorce: Your spouse can certainly make it difficult for you to obtain a divorce, but he or she cannot prevent the divorce from going through. If your spouse fails to respond to your petition for a divorce, it is possible to enter a default divorce. The process will drag on a bit, but you will ultimately be able to dissolve your marriage with or without your spouse’s cooperation.
- A mother will always receive custody of the children: There was definitely a bias towards mothers several years ago, but these days the law favors whatever is in the best interests of the children. Generally, courts believe the involvement of both parents serves the best interests of the children.
- The divorce process is always a battle: This is one of the biggest myths. The divorce process can actually be relatively peaceful, depending on the method you choose. Mediation, for example, will allow both parties to work on an agreement together rather than going through litigation, which often takes on a more hostile tone. If you want to avoid having to hash things out in court, look into alternative methods of divorce that can save you time, money, and heartache.
Schedule a Consultation with a Compassionate Divorce Attorney
If you are in the process of divorcing your spouse, you need to hire a skilled divorce attorney to assist you and ensure your interests are protected. At K. Dean Kantaras, P.A., our divorce attorneys have the experience and expertise necessary to guide you through this process.
Contact our office today at (727) 939-6113 to schedule a confidential case review with one of our attorneys.