Connecticut Family Law Blog

Ensuring a fair outcome in divorce isn't a straightforward process. There are many unique considerations that you need to reflect upon to protect yourself. From determining what assets are separate property to creating a comprehensive list of all the assets you've acquired during marriage, there are many steps you can take to improve how fair the asset division process is.

Putting a price on certain assets can be difficult, while others are more clear cut. For example, your retirement account has a fixed financial value. Other assets, including items whose values fluctuate over time, may be harder to put a price on. You probably think you know the value of your home. You pay taxes on it and probably even have a mortgage. However, the amount of your mortgage may not represent what your home is currently worth.

There is nothing more important to parents than the well-being of their children. Family law in Connecticut looks to put children's best interests first and that means parents need to see to their kids' overall well-being, which includes their emotional health. Some children have difficulty processing monumental changes in their lives and that could include the divorce of their parents, death of a loved one or a major move. It's important that parents allow their children to have a voice to process these changes. 

There are a number of things parents can do to help their kids and one of the most crucial is communicating with them. Announcing major life changes by having a family meeting in a situation where a child feels safe to make his or her feelings known may be the first thing to do. Letting kids express their emotions in whatever manner they feel most comfortable with, is a wise idea. It's necessary for children to know they won't be ostracized for their feelings. 

Money can either bring out the best or the worst in many people. It seems that it can be the root of all evil in a divorce situation. Many Connecticut couples cite money problems as one of the main reasons their marriages erode. Recent studies have shown that financially disadvantaged couples were more apt to divorce rather than those who were more financially stable. 

Researchers also looked at the differences regarding the perception of finances between husbands and wives of various socioeconomic backgrounds. It was found that wives of couples who were in lower income brackets were less satisfied in their relationships than were their partners. In fact, women who started their marriages with higher sociodemographic risk started married life with less satisfaction and that only declined more as the years went on.

People whose marriages are coming to an end may have to dig deep into their pockets. Connecticut couples who are thinking about divorce may be interested to know that the average cost of a divorce today hovers around $15,000 per person, according to recent statistics. There are other considerations, too, besides the potential financial costs. 

There are primarily three issues to consider when considering the financial aspects of divorce: whether the divorce is amicable, how long the process may take and the choice of an attorney. There is no one divorce fits all and how much a couple will be out of pocket depends upon their individual circumstances. Much also depends on whether a couple is willing to work together to come to a mutually agreeable settlement to keep things out of court.