Divorce can be a deeply confusing, frustrating, and often financially draining experience. It can be difficult to figure out what the next steps are for yourself and your family, especially if you don’t have all of the information. A Salt Lake City divorce attorney can assist you in getting the information you need and helping you work through the issues as they come up.
Moreover, there can be many issues involved in a divorce that you and your spouse cannot come to terms with. A divorce lawyer can help you navigate through these issues and make the most of your situation.
Here are some of the most common issues involved in a divorce.
- Child custody
One of the most important issues that must be addressed in a divorce is the custody of the children. Many divorces are not fought over financial issues, but over who gets full rights to their children. Child custody rights include physical custody, which refers to where the child will live, legal custody, which refers to who makes decisions for and about the child, and visitation rights, which refer to how much time and access each parent has with their child.
- Alimony or spousal maintenance
This is money that is paid to one spouse from the other in order for them to continue to live with their spouse after the divorce. Alimony can be provided for by court order, or it can be agreed upon by the spouses themselves. The amount of alimony that is paid out depends on the income of each spouse. If a couple has been married for many years, alimony might have to be paid out over a lifetime.
- Child support
This is a set amount of money paid by one spouse to the other for the care and custody of their child, including health insurance and day-to-day expenses. It can be ordered by a court or negotiated privately. Child support can be ordered in a wide variety of ways, and it can be changed or terminated over time.
- Division of assets
This refers to the division of property between a husband and wife upon their divorce. Division of assets can be tricky because both partners might have different ideas as to what exactly is or should be considered marital property. If there is any dispute as to what belongs to whom, it might be necessary for the assistance of an attorney.
