Bowie Maryland Legal Blog

Whether you have recently filed for divorce or you are simply considering the idea, there are many issues that arise. One of the most important is that of child custody and how you and your spouse will continue raising your children once you are separated. Traditionally, the child is put in the sole physical custody of one parent, and the non-custodial parent is given a visitation schedule. However, studies show that children who are raised in joint-custody arrangements may have advantages over those who are raised in sole-custody households.

Children need both their mother and father to develop crucial life skills. Each parent provides something that the other parent does not. For example, the Father Involvement Research Alliance reports that fathers bring children a sense of competition, achievement and independence. Mothers, on the other hand, teach children the importance of working together, and treating others are equals while giving them a sense of security.

Having the right mindset is key to succeeding in many areas of life, but when you are going through a difficult arrangement, such as co-parenting with a former spouse, suddenly it is not easy to stay upbeat and focused. However, making sure your child has a healthy upbringing in Maryland even if you and your spouse are no longer together is important for your offspring’s future. That is why you should separate your ex-spouse’s performance as a wife or husband from the spouse’s ability to function as a parent.

As Parents.com explains, you may have had serious issues with your spouse while married, but that does not mean your spouse cannot be a good parent. In other words, your marriage might have failed, but that does not mean the parenting of both you and your ex has failed also. In many instances, children benefit from continuous interaction with both parents, so you want to include your former spouse in your children’s life as much as possible.

Divorce is not something that anybody goes into marriage planning on. However, as MarketWatch reports, about 2 million divorces are filed in the United States each year and about half of all marriages ultimately end in divorce. With such daunting statistics, it is only prudent for those who feel as though their marriage may be coming to an end to prepare beforehand. Divorce is a major and often stressful undertaking, but doing these three things can help mitigate some of the pressure.

Keep copies of financial records

As USA Today notes, good recordkeeping can make all the difference between a relatively simple and painless divorce and a protracted and contested one. When both spouses are in possession of a complete record of the financial assets and liabilities that they own, then a lot of the guesswork about how much their marital estate is really worth is removed. As such, each spouse should ensure they have copies of all their financial records, including bank and credit card statements, income tax returns, pay stubs, insurance policies, retirement and investment accounts, and business-related statements.

You and your spouse decide that a separation will prove healthy and beneficial for you, your spouse and your children. Yet perhaps you and your spouse do not necessarily want to terminate your marriage altogether. In Maryland, two types of divorces exist. You and your spouse can determine whether each type proves best for your individual circumstances, and in doing so, you can file for separation without a permanent decree by the court.