After being married for years, an individual who decides to get divorced may feel relieved at the opportunity to begin a new life independently, particularly if the pair had irreconcilable differences. However, he or she may also feel fearful about the future. Because a person’s life may change dramatically after divorce in California, it helps to be prepared for what will happen, particularly from a financial standpoint.
One of the biggest aspects of a person’s life that is likely to be altered following divorce is the person’s standard of living. For instance, instead of covering expenses such as utilities and mortgage bills with the help of a spouse, a person can expect to have to assume these costs independently. In addition, if both individuals were on the same health insurance plan, one person may have to seek out his or her own plan following the dissolution of the marriage.
Furthermore, the individual who has full custody of the children might become primarily responsible for their living expenses. These costs might include clothes and even haircuts. Making a list of all of a couple’s shared expenses prior to filing for divorce can help to provide a clearer picture of the amount of money each person will have to spend independently following the split.
Knowing what one’s expenses will be in the future may affect how a person approaches divorce in the areas of property division or child support, for example. Even though a judge has a lot of power to decide how these areas will be handled in California, the parties to a divorce may attempt to negotiate these matters on their own terms. It certainly is within each spouse’s right to pursue a settlement that best meets his or her needs while considering the other spouse’s wishes as well.
Source: The Huffington Post, 5 Nuances of Divorce You Need to Know, Kerri Zane, Dec. 26, 2013
