How Should You Decide Whether to Get a Divorce?

A Huntington Beach divorce attorney can assist you if you are going through the process of deciding the future of your marriage. Many marriages end in divorce, but if your marriage is in trouble, you may be torn about whether to try to work things out or whether it would be better for you and your spouse to both separate permanently and move on with your lives. 

Brown & Charbonneau, LLP can offer you guidance on what a divorce is likely to involve, and on how California’s laws would protect and provide for you during a divorce. By developing a clear understanding of what to expect following the end of your marriage, you can make a more informed choice about whether or not you want to move forward with considering marriage dissolution. Give us a call at (866)237-8129 to find out more.

How to Decide Whether to Divorce

As you think about whether divorce is right for you or not, you need to consider what the realities of life would be like after you are no longer living with your spouse. One issue to consider is finances. It can be a lot more expensive to maintain two households rather than to live together as a married couple. You may have to pay child support if you don’t get custody of your kids, and you may have to pay spousal support depending upon whether there was an earning discrepancy and the length of your marriage. If you are a stay-at-home spouse, you may have to go back to work. While no one should stay together on the basis of money alone, you may decide that working on your marriage could be a better solution if you are unable to cope with the financial lifestyle changes which can come with divorce.

You also need to think about whether you are comfortable not being able to spend as much time with your children after a divorce. Custody and parenting time in California are some of the most contentious issues for couples who are separating. Parents are encouraged to work out a parenting plan on their own, but courts can step in if parents cannot come to a consensus.

In almost all cases, courts are going to create some type of custody arrangement where both parents get to see the kids. This means you will be without your children for some part of the time, and may miss holidays or special events with them. Staying together for the kids is not a good idea, but it is important to think about the realities of raising kids while living in separate households, as well as about the likelihood of probable future stepparents becoming involved in children’s lives.

You should also consider whether you and your ex are able and willing to try to work together to solve problems in your marriage. Counseling can sometimes help you to get things back on track if you are both willing to work together to try to save your marriage.

When a Divorce is a Good Idea

Ultimately, it is up to every individual person whether a divorce is something that they wish to consider for their family or not. The decision is a very personal one, with profound implications on your future.

However, there are certain circumstances and red flags which suggest that a divorce may be a good outcome for your family. For example, if you have been to counseling in the past or have tried to work things out and there is still an unhealthy amount of arguing going on in your family, it may be better for you and your children if you are able to divorce. You should not let worries about your finances or time with your kids stop you under these circumstances, as a Huntington Beach divorce attorney can provide you with help in arguing for a custody arrangement and divorce settlement that you are happy with.

If there is domestic abuse occurring, either in the form of spousal abuse or child abuse, these are also major red flags. Abuse usually continues and escalates, so unless your spouse is truly willing to get intensive help to stop the abuse, divorce may be the safest option.

Getting Help from a Huntington Beach Divorce Attorney

If you are considering divorce, Brown & Charbonneau, LLP can help you to weigh your options. Give us a call at (866)237-8129 or contact us online to speak with a member of our legal team to find out more about whether ending your marriage is the best choice to move forward.