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A second divorce can be more complex than the first

On Behalf of | Jun 20, 2019 | Firm News |

When a first marriage ends in divorce, many people either vow to stay single or try to learn from their mistakes. If your divorce was especially painful, you may have had even more incentive to make the second one work.

Unfortunately, there are no guarantees in life or love. The breakup of your second marriage can be equally as emotional as the first, but you now have many things to focus on as you walk through the divorce process a second time. This may be quite different from your first divorce, so having support from an experienced Board-certified Family Law expert attorney in Collin County, Denton County, Dallas County, Midland County, Ector County, or elsewhere throughout Texas is a critical first step.

 Children from more than one marriage

Perhaps the most complex issue you will face is balancing the custody of your children from both marriages. This could quickly become a problem, depending on whether you want your children to share parenting time or you want to have separate days with your children from each marriage. This may mean trying to coordinate schedules with two former spouses. You may also have to prepare for a legal fight if you wish to spend time with any stepchildren you did not adopt.

Another difficulty to face is the emotional trauma a second divorce may have on your children. No matter how contentious the breakup is for you and your spouse, you will want to make the transition as peaceful and stress-free as you can for the children.

Your finances

Whether your second divorce occurs while you are still raising children or you are going through a “gray divorce,” you will have to face financial decisions that can affect you for years to come. You may have to deal with any of the following factors:

  • Paying post-divorce maintenance (“alimony”) to more than one spouse
  • Paying child support for any children you and your spouse had or stepchildren you adopted
  • Dividing any retirement accounts that you and your spouse shared
  • Dividing the interests in a small business
  • Splitting the house or mortgage
  • Splitting other debts

These are many of the same issues you worked through in your first divorce. However, it is likely that any agreements that still affect you from your first marriage may suffer the impact of settlements or court orders from your upcoming divorce. The last thing you want is to emerge from your second divorce with years of personal struggle and financial hardship ahead of you. Having a skilled and experienced Board-certified Family Law expert attorney at your side can provide you with many resources to help you meet your goals at the end of your divorce.

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