Divorcing Without Children
When married couples divorce, they have to think about everything involved, including their children. But not all couples have children, so when they don’t, their divorce is different. They don’t have to co-parent or try to get along with each other.
One of the biggest benefits is that they don’t even have to see each other or communicate with each other at all. There is no need to continue the relationship after a divorce. It can end without any repercussions. The parties can focus on their careers, social lives, and anything else that is important to them.
However, whether or not there are children involved, divorce is an emotional process, especially if you have been married for a long time. There are many emotions involved, including anger, fear, disappointment, betrayal, and grief. You may have considered your spouse to be your best friend. Now what happens once you divorce?
Since there are no children involved, there are no issues regarding child custody, parenting time, or child support. The concerns instead turn to money. Alimony and the division of assets will be top priorities and these issues can be contentious.
The parties will need to collect all the required financial information to settle their divorce. Gathering all the documents to prove income, expenses, property, assets, and debts can be a huge chore in itself.
Separate Property
Assets acquired before marriage will need to be taken into consideration. These may include inheritances, gifts, businesses, and retirement accounts. Since some of these may be mixed in with marital assets, they may be subject to split in a divorce.
Marital Assets
Florida is not a community property state, so marital assets are divided equitably, which may or may not be 50/50. Marital assets may include bank accounts, houses, cars, collectibles, and furniture. There are also debts to consider, such as car loans, credit cards, and personal loans. Fault does not need to be proven in a divorce, nor is it relevant, so even if a spouse engages in adultery, there are typically no consequences in regards to asset division.
Alimony
Alimony, or spousal support, is common but is not necessary in all marriages. Even if one spouse has a higher income than the other, if both spouses earn enough money to pay bills and meet all their needs, then alimony may not be necessary. However, if one spouse earns significantly more and the lower-income spouse is struggling with finances, then the higher-earner spouse may be forced to pay alimony. This is common in longer marriages, even if there are no children involved and one spouse was not a stay-at-home parent.
Seek Legal Help
Divorcing without children is different than ending a marriage with no kids involved. With no children to worry about, divorcing couples tend to worry more about money and assets, especially if they are older and near retirement.
What are your concerns? Fort Lauderdale divorce lawyer Edward J. Jennings, P.A. can alleviate your worries and get you the outcome you desire. Schedule a consultation to learn more. Fill out the online form or call 954-764-4330.
Resource:
psychologytoday.com/us/blog/better-divorce/202204/the-biggest-concerns-when-you-divorce-without-children
