Common Misconceptions About Divorce

If you’re planning on getting divorced, you likely have several questions you want answers. It’s important to educate yourself about the process and be able to separate truth from fiction. Once you learn about commonly believed myths about divorce, the process may be a little less stressful.

Here are some common misconceptions about divorce.

The Mother Gets Custody Every Time

In the majority of custody battles, the judge does grant custody to the mother. However, this isn’t always the case. If the mother is considered unfit, the father may get awarded custody. For example, if the mother has a history of drug abuse, the judge may feel like she isn’t the right influence for the children and grant custody to the father.

It’s Always a Bitter Legal Battle

When many people think about divorce, they imagine a married couple on opposite ends of a courtroom in a heated dispute. While there are certainly divorces that are bitter legal battles, not all of them play out this way. In many cases, the split is amicable and each party uses the same divorce lawyer to resolve issues pertaining to child support, asset division and child custody.

Each Side Always Gets Half

While the distribution of assets during a divorce must be fair, they don’t have to be completely even. The court will consider the income of each spouse, the guardianship of the children and other factors when determining how assets are divided. For example, if one of the spouses earns significantly more than the other spouse, he or she may be left with fewer assets.

Only Women Receive Spousal Support

While this might have been true many years ago, it isn’t the case today. More and more women are in the workforce these days and have the potential to earn more money than men. If the woman earns significantly more money than the man in the marriage, the woman may have to pay spousal support in the event of a divorce.

Not Paying Child Support Limits Visitation

Child support and visitation are two completely separate issues. If a noncustodial parent doesn’t make child support payments, that doesn’t give the parent the right to withhold visitation.

Hiring a Divorce Lawyer

If you’re considering getting a divorce, you should speak to an experienced divorce lawyer in Rockville, MD soon. He or she can review your case and answer any questions you have about divorce proceedings.

Thanks to Daniel J. Wright for their insight into family law and misconceptions about divorce.