Have you and your spouse reached a breaking point but you are still unsure of whether divorce is the healthiest option for your family? Please know that you are not alone. Countless couples before you have weathered this challenged and not all of them ultimately pursued the same legal options. Sometimes, divorce is the healthiest option for all involved. But sometimes, there are compelling legal, practical, physical and emotional reasons to embrace a legal alternative. Most often, couples who are unsure of whether divorce is the correct option consider legal separation as a viable legal alternative to outright divorce. But it is also possible that consulting with an experienced family law attorney will provide you with additional legal options as well.
Legal Reasons to Remain Married
Legal separation allows couples to remain legally married while affording them the same kinds of property division and child custody/support protections that they would have access to in the wake of a decision to divorce. Legal separation can cover as many bases as may benefit the individuals affected. For example, some couples choose to divide all of their property and to make a detailed child custody arrangement as part of their legal separation process. Other couples simply negotiate living situations, some property concerns and a broad child custody arrangement (when minor children are affected by such proceedings).
Why would a couple choose legal separation as an alternative to divorce, either in the short-term or long-term? There may be several legal and/or practical reasons a couple could choose to remain married. Some couples choose to honor customary or religious bans on divorce but benefit from the legal protections that formalized separation may provide. Some couples are unsure of whether or not they will be able to reconcile and they do not yet want to commit to the divorce process until they can sort out the healthiest way forward. Some couples have immigration or health insurance concerns in re: the ways that divorce may affect them practically and legally. Still others are unsure of how they will make turning a single household into two households affordable and logistically possible. Legal separation can help to provide protection while these concerns about divorce are being contemplated.
Legal Guidance Is Available
If you have questions about the divorce process and/or legal alternatives to divorce, please do not hesitate to schedule a consultation with an experienced family law attorney today. Because no two marriages are exactly alike, no two marriages evolve and potentially end in exactly the same way. The route that may be best for other couples may not be the healthiest choice for your family. A firm has extensive experience with family legal challenges of all kinds. They would therefore be happy to provide you with seasoned guidance and support as you evaluate your legal options. Regardless of what decision you ultimately make about the fate of your marriage, they can help to ensure that your decision is an informed one. Please consider scheduling a confidential consultation today so that an Arlington family lawyer, such as from Brandy Austin Law Firm, PLLC, can have a discussion about your situation and answer any questions you may have.