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Divorce

Ten things you need to know about divorce.

1. Divorce is a fact of life. It happens in nearly half of all first marriages, and a majority of second marriages.
2. For most people, divorce is a gateway to a better life.
3. Children's lives do not have to be ruined by a divorce. There are ways to handle divorces so that the process and the outcome cause as little harm to the children as possible.
4. After divorce there is less money to go around, so generally everyone tightens their belt until they restabilize their financial lives. Usually that happens within two years.
5. In a divorce, the following are usually at issue; custody, visitation, child support, health insurance for the children and both parents, spousal maintenance, property division (including personal property, real property, pensions, and other liquid assets.)
6. Most divorces do not go to trial. 95% of divorces come to an agreement between the parties - the question is how soon the parties are going to agree, whether their agreement is a wise one, and what method the parties used to arrive at their agreement.
7. Courts favor mediated agreements.
8. Mediated agreements can happen between the parties without using professionals. Parties can also use mediators or they can use one party's attorney to help them bring their agreement to a close.
9. Divorces are labor intensive, and will cost more that you want to pay. Having said that, parties can keep their expenses down by doing much of the legwork, and by being reasonable.
10. There is a happy ending and life goes on - usually successfully. It's up to you to make the future what you want it to be.

If you have questions about divorce, call Ballou Law Partners at 612-321-9800.

Practice Areas: / Adoption / Child Support / Custody / Divorce / Domestic Partnership Agreements / Immigration / Mediation / Name Change / Orders for Protection / Property Division / Spousal Maintenance / Wills & Trusts /