Divorce and Separation Information

If you're considering a divorce or separation, or currently going through the process, you need to know what to expect each step of the way. Few of us ever anticipate this stage in our lives, and therefore don't know what options are available to us. Below you will find information about various legal aspects that you may be facing at this point in your life.

Martial Separation - Things to think about when you split up.
How To Get Divorced - How it works and what to consider.
Legal Professionals - Working with lawyers, mediators, and financial planners.
Financial Issues - Dividing assets and debts.
Military Issues - Considerations and issues in military marriages.
When Children Are Involved - Custody, support, and visitation.
Do It Yourself - Information to help you out.
Guides and State Resources - State laws and resources.

Separation

• Separation and Moving Out - What to consider before splitting up
• What is a Legal Separation - Understanding the advantages of a legal separation and how it can protect you.
• Separation FAQS - Tips and answers from the legal expert
• How To File For A Legal Separation - Find out which states allow a legal separation and how you should proceed.
• More Articles about Separation ...

The Legal Process of Splitting Up

• Pre-divorce Advice - Why it's important to create an exit plan.
• Preparing For A Divorce - Things to do before you actually file.
• Divorce Considerations - What to think about when you split up.
• Financially Prepare For A Divorce - How budgeting can help.
• Positive Steps to Prepare for Divorce - Using a financial planner, getting a grasp of your situation, and making plans to protect your financial rights.
• Five Mistakes To Avoid When Splitting Up and improve your chances of success.
• Marriage Annulment - Establishing that a valid marriage never existed, understanding the common grounds for an annulment, how a religious and legally annulled marriage differ, and more.
• Understanding the Legal Process outlines what to expect in the legal process, including the common filings, discovery, court hearings, and more. 
• The Steps of Divorce - Frequently asked questions about how the process works.
• Fault and No-fault Grounds - The difference between legally recognized fault and no-fault grounds and the most commonly asked questions about declaring fault grounds.
• Filing Divorce Papers - Getting the legal process started of ending a marriage.
• How to Serve Papers on your Spouse to get the process started. The article details the various methods of service and answers frequently asked questions about the process.
• Pendente Lite Relief - Getting temporary support and custody orders while the legal process if pending.
• Paperwork and Documents - What documents you'll need to get the process started and what should be addressed in your final agreement.
• Signing the Final Agreement - Answers from the legal expert.
• Motion To Modify Divorce Decree - Finding out whether your agreement qualifies for a modification and understanding your options.
• More articles on the legal process...

Legal Professionals

• Do You Need an Attorney - Find out what situations require legal representation and when doing it yourself is a viable option.
• Find A Divorce Attorney in your area.
• How to Choose A Family Lawyer that meshes with your personality and meets your needs.
• Family Law Attorneys and Lawyers - how to choose someone to represent you.
• Lawyer Consultation Questions to help you find the best lawyer for your case.
• Working With Your Lawyer - How to handle the client lawyer relationship.
• Is Your Attorney Meeting Your Expectations - Find out how to determine whether you've picked the right lawyer for your case.
• How To Save On the Cost of a Divorce - tips to cut legal fees.
• Minimizing The Cost of Splitting Up - Alternatives to make it cheaper.
• Collaborative Legal Alternatives - A cooperative approach.
• Using a Financial Planner - How a financial expert can help you understand your options and get the best settlement for your unique situation.
• Divorce Mediation - The benefits of mediating your settlement.
• Mediation - Resolving disputes without going to court.
• Using Mediation - What is needed to make the process work.
• Child Custody Mediation - A means of reaching common ground.
• Mediation Questions - Answers about the mediation process from the expert.
• Choosing a Private Investigator - Tips for finding a qualified investigator.
• Using A Forensic Accountant to revel essential information for your settlement agreement.

Financial Issues

• Settlement Issues - Seven costly mistakes to avoid.
• Financial Considerations - What to think about before hand.
• The Marital Home - Who gets the house, how to handle the mortgage, splitting the equity, and refinancing the home.
• Protecting Your Assets - What you can do if your spouse is hiding marital assets or selling off property.
• Post Marital Agreement Tips - Avoiding mistakes when preparing a postnuptial agreement.
• Premarital Agreement Questions and Answers - Understanding what a premarital agreement does, if you can do your own agreement, and more
• Property Issues - Frequently Asked Questions.
• Dividing Retirement Assets - What needs to be considered.
• Alimony - When it's awarded, what kind, and for how long.
• Unsecured Debt Responsibility - How it's handled.
• More...

Military Issues

• Military Benefits When Splitting Up - how military benefits are affected while everything is pending.
• Military No Contact Order - Learn what can happen if you have a no contact order issued against you.
• Military Child Custody and Visitation - Complications due to jurisdiction, deployments, and more.
• Military Family Care Plan - Single mothers in the military are required to have a FCP for periods of deployment. Find out what should be included.
• Disability Pay - How disability pay is handled when a military marriage ends.

Do It Yourself Information

• Do You Need An Attorney - When it's appropriate to do it yourself
• Do It Yourself Divorce - Tips to consider.
• Law Resources for Pro Se Litigants  - Finding relevant info and legal resources can be frustrating when trying to do your own paperwork and filing it with the court. Learn how to access the forms and tools you need.
• Testifying In Court - There are several things you should keep in mind when testifying in court. Get tips for how to answer questions, how to present yourself to the judge and more
• Online Options for couples who can reach a general agreement and want to handle everything personally.
• Downloadable Forms quick and easy access to quality forms, settlement agreements and other related products.
• Legal Paperwork - What documents to have on hand to get the process started and issues to be addressed in your final agreement.

Guides and State Resources » Return to top

• State Resources for each state including relevant laws, resources, child support guidelines and calculators, domestic violence shelters, and more.
• A Woman's Guide to Getting Divorced - Information geared to help women make the best decisions when ending a marriage, with valuable resources and tips for starting over.
• Books about specific topics - including guides to help you understand the legal process, win custody, determine child support and alimony, get a separation, and considerations in property division.

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