Gibbons Law Firm: Complications That Arise During Divorce

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Top 5 Things to Remember When Filing a Divorce

Family law deals with the issues that arise from marriage and domestic relationships. The cases give rise to matters that include divorce, legal separation, division of assets and liabilities, spousal support, child custody, child support, and other matters. This topic is extremely sensitive and highly complex due to the personal nature of the disputes. Because of this, it’s important to hire an experienced and knowledgable divorce attorney at the Lake of the Ozarks who can help you navigate your case. Here are our top five tips to remember when navigating a divorce situation.

#1. Divorces Can Spike After the Holidays

As the holiday season approaches, remember that the divorce rate is typically on the rise after they are over. Here are just a few reasons that divorce rates rise after the holidays are completed:

Couples put it off
Holidays are a time of reflection
Flaws are revealed through the holiday stress
Making a last-ditch effort through the holidays

Curious if this may apply to you? Check out our blog to get more insight into the reasons listed above: Common Reasons the Divorce Rates Spikes After the Holidays.

#2. Certain Things Can Impact the Divorce Costs

Personal and professional relationships may be affected by a divorce. Not only does a divorce at the Lake of the Ozarks cause emotional damage, but it can also have a negative impact on your financial stability. Divorces cost money and it's best to find an experienced divorce attorney near the Lake of the Ozarks to look out for your best interested throughout the entire process.

If you are curious about what can affect the costs of divorce, check out a blog we did earlier this year to learn more: 5 Things that Impact the Cost of Divorce.

#3. There Are Certain Actions That Should Be Avoided

Going through the divorce process is a time of high emotion. Along with these emotions can come irrational actions. Your character is being scrutinized while going through a divorce so it's important to keep composure of your actions. As a divorce attorney at the Lake of the Ozarks, we've seen a number of cases take a turn due to the irrational action of one or both of the spouses. These common actions that should be avoided when getting a divorce at the Lake of the Ozarks:

Believing a battle is the only way to resolve
Pitting your children against the other parent
Getting pregnant
Increasing debt
Hiding assets

It can be hard to know what to do in a divorce situation, and what actions should be avoided, but a trustworthy lawyer at the Lake of the Ozarks can help. You can also refer to our previous content to get more ideas about what to avoid: Actions You Should Avoid When Getting a Divorce.

#4. Divorce Can Be Hard On Your Family

The divorce process can take a toll on everyone involved. While you may think it only affects you and your spouse, your children, friends, and family are all impacted by the process, as well. Our divorce attorney at the Lake of the Ozarks knows how difficult this time can be and we're here to help offer some advice on how to make this process as easy as possible on your loved ones. Other aspects that can ease the burden are:

Create open lines of communication
Seek professional help
Keep your priorities straight

Want to learn more about guiding your family and loved ones through this process? Check out a past blog: Tips to Make Divorce Easier on Your Family

#5. Father’s Have Rights, Too

A huge number of fathers still want to continue to be actively involved in their children’s lives even after the split. Unfortunately, many fathers don’t understand the rights that they have where their children are concerned, and sometimes they can even be overlooked by the courts. Gender bias shouldn’t exist in the courts to favor mothers over fathers, but that’s not always the case.

If you would like to learn more about a Father’s rights in a divorce situation, check out a blog we did recently: Statistics About a Father’s Rights.

Need a Divorce Lawyer at the Lake of the Ozarks?

Gibbons Law Firm assists clients with all types of family law cases. We are committed to providing the legal counseling and advice that clients need in such disputes. Find out more about how we can assist you by contacting our Firm and making an appointment today, or schedule a time for a FREE consultation by calling us at 573-348-2211.

Remember, your initial consultation with Gibbons Law Firm is always free.

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Gibbons Law Firm

2820 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Suite B4

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

(573) 348-2211

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Tuesday, May 2, 2017

5 Issues That May Complicate The Divorce Process

Even under the best circumstances, divorce is rarely easy. Ending a marriage requires the dissolution of both a personal and a legal arrangement, and emotions tend to run high during the process. In a perfect world, both spouses would cooperate as much as possible so as to not create unnecessary stress and strain on the situation. Unfortunately, things rarely progress in this idyllic fashion. This week, our family law firm in Lake Ozark MO is here to take a quick look at some of the factors that may complicate the divorce process.

1. Custody Disputes

This likely won't come as a surprise, but custody disputes are some of the most common complications to arise during divorce. If you and your spouse cannot come to an agreement on how custody and associated parental responsibilities should be divided, you may end up facing a long, combative struggle over custody rights.

2. Disparate Income

If one spouse earns substantially more than the other, disputes may arise over alimony or child support. The higher-earning spouse will likely (understandably) wish to keep monthly payments to a minimum so as to have more money to devote to new life situations that may present. On the other side of the equation, the lower-earning spouse may be concerned about maintaining the lifestyle they became accustomed to during marriage.

3. Extensive Assets

With so much at stake, high-asset divorces are often highly contested. If you or your spouse share substantial retirement accounts, high-dollar real estate, six- or seven-figure bank accounts, or other valuable assets, you may run into difficulties determining whom should receive what.

4. Extensive Liabilities

Just as owning valuable assets can pose a challenge during the divorce process, so can having expensive liabilities. If you and your spouse accumulated significant debt during your marriage (car loans, student loans, credit card debt, etc), you will have to determine how to divide these financial burdens.

5. Pregnancy

If a wife becomes pregnant at any point during the divorce proceedings, the process will instantly become much more complicated - and probably extended. The divorce cannot be completely finalized until the new child is born, because it is not until that time that the court can finalize custody or child support for the new baby. Additionally, it is worth noting that when a married woman gives birth to a baby (either during the marriage or within 300 days of her divorce), her husband is legally presumed to be the father. This is true even if she and her husband had been unofficially separated for several years. If either parent wishes to contest this automatic ruling, a paternity test will have to be ordered to officially designate whom the father is.

Gibbons Law Firm Is Here To Assist

While securing quality representation for your Lake of the Ozarks divorce is always wise, it becomes all the more crucial when complications arise. No matter the types of issues that present during your divorce, an experienced divorce attorney in Osage Beach MO will be able to help you approach the situation strategically.

If you would like more information about our family law services at the Lake of the Ozarks, visit our website at www.RGibbonsLawFirm.com or call 573-348-2211 to schedule your free consultation.

Remember, your initial consultation with Gibbons Law Firm is always free.