Believe it or not, the rate of divorce actually reached a new all time low in 2005. In 2005, the United States saw its lowest divorce rate since 1970. That being said, the scary statistic still stands: fifty percent of marriages end in divorce. The average length for a first marriage is less than eight years. Those are not happy numbers. If you are contemplating getting a divorce, here is a rundown on divorce laws.
There are a number of resources on the internet to give you an idea of what your state's divorce laws are and these are a great place to start your research. Some of these websites are state specific and some have little bits of information for each state. It might take some searching to find the laws for your local area. Keep in mind, though, that these websites are not always up to date with the most current information. Laws change all the time and it would be impossible for a divorce site to keep up with the divorce laws in every county of every state.
The only way to make sure that you are following the laws of your state is to talk to a lawyer. This doesn't mean that you have to go out and hire an attorney, but you will need to talk to someone who has legal expertise and can give legal advice. It doesn't matter if you plan on staying best friends with your spouse after the divorce is final and you've divided up your assets, you need to consult with a lawyer, if for no other reason than to make sure your forms are filled out correctly and that the terms of your divorce do not break any laws.
This is especially true of child custody laws. If you have children with your spouse, things could get heated while you decide on the custody of your children. Each state has set down very specific laws for child custody disputes. Your lawyer will make sure that you are following them.
Unfortunately there is no "go to" guide that walks you through a divorce step by step. This is because each divorce is different. Just as there are no people who are exactly alike, no two divorces are exactly alike. The only way to make sure that you are following the letter of the law in your state is by hiring a lawyer. You and your spouse can use the same lawyer or work with a legal mediator, but you will need to make sure you at least consult with someone who has a working knowledge of the divorce laws in your state and county.
Getting divorced is not going to be a fun process. It might be what is best for everybody involved, but the process of getting divorced is going to be painful and it could take a long time. Working with someone who is familiar with divorce laws is the best way to make sure that the process doesn't take any longer than it absolutely has to.
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