The end of your marriage will bring changes that you may not expect, even if you feel like you are well-prepared for what is ahead. Regardless of how thoroughly you prepare for divorce, there are things you may not know, and these things can catch you off guard and possibly lead to poor decisions that could impact you long-term. It is helpful to learn as much as possible about divorce in Arizona as you move forward.
You may also have misconceptions about divorce that could factor into choices you make. This is especially true about the financial aspects of your divorce, which are issues that will impact you and your children for years to come. It might be helpful for you to learn about the common preconceived notions and issues that people often have about divorce in order to avoid undue complications.
Money myths and other problems
Money is one of the most complex and emotionally challenging issues during your divorce. You naturally want what is yours, but it is not always clear exactly which assets are yours, which assets are eligible for division between the spouses and how you can protect your financial interests. The following are common divorce-related money myths that people often believe, which could negatively impact the terms of their divorce order:
- You are not responsible for your spouse’s credit card debt — In reality, you could share responsibility for these balances, depending on the terms of the card and whose name is on the account.
- The mother always receives custody and child support — It is more common for parents to share custody of their children. Child support is often based on the needs of the child, income of parents and other factors.
- Moving money into another account will protect it — This is not necessarily true as property division applies to all marital assets, regardless of where they are.
- You need to prove you have a reason to divorce — In most cases, the reason for the divorce has little bearing on the outcome of the divorce or its financial settlement.
- Only men pay alimony — There are many cases in which the court orders the woman to pay the former spouse alimony because she is the higher-earning spouse.
Your divorce terms will be unique to your individual situation and factors that are specific to you. If you are unsure of what divorce myths you may believe and what information you may need to make the best possible decisions, it could be beneficial to speak with an experienced professional regarding your legal options and how to protect your future interests.
