The Many Stages Or Aspects Of Divorce

By Author: Toby King
Total Articles: 28
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Getting married is one of the happiest moments for any couple that’s in love. Whether done hastily (like those instant drive-thru weddings in Las Vegas) or planned for years, it is testament to the love and commitment that a man and a woman have for each other.

Unlike fairy tales, though, not all those who get married live happily ever after. There are times when certain issues come up throughout a couple’s life that eventually tear them apart. No matter how they work hard to keep their sacred union intact, somewhere along the way, something major makes them decide to breach the vows they made during their wedding day. They then go through that painful process of divorce.

Divorce is actually not always something that serves as a closure to a marriage falling apart. It is, for all intents and purposes, a process. This process may last for a relatively short time like a few months or may last for several years, especially if the couple filing for divorce has children. Here are some of the aspects (or stages) of divorce:

Legal – This is the aspect of divorce that’s familiar to most ...
... people. This is the dissolution of the marriage by legal means. It cancels the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and breaks up the bonds of matrimony between the parties. Unlike annulment which only makes the marriage null, divorce terminates with finality the legal union of a married couple.

Economic – It is on this aspect that the parties divide their financial assets and property. If there was a prenuptial agreement that the divorcing parties signed prior to getting married, the division of their property is facilitated much easier compared to those who did not have a prenup. In some cases, a party’s claim to ownership of an asset can be forfeited on certain grounds like adultery.

Emotional – This is an aspect that can weigh heavily on a party and may even lead to tragedy when left unchecked or untreated. The emotional aspect of divorce starts before even filing for it. The minute one of the parties begins to see that their spouse is showing signs of infidelity or inability to fulfill their marriage vows, the emotional and even psychological impact begins to take its toll.

Community – Although the divorce is only between the two parties involved, the process can also significantly affect their relationship with the people around them, especially with their immediate family members. It can’t be avoided that people outside of the failed marriage may take sides, so they end up being supportive of the party they choose to side with and indifferent to the other.

Co-parental – Since the divorcing couple will soon be living separately (although some already start living under a different roof even before they file for divorce), if they had children during the marriage, they’ll be performing different roles and responsibilities during, after, and even before the divorce-filing itself. Sometimes, depending on the grounds for divorce, visitation rights (or limits thereby) may also be in effect.

Certainly, divorce involves many aspects. This makes it very vital for the divorcing parties to be prepared for all of these stages that they and/or their children have to go through. Getting a divorce lawyer can help reduce not only the stress but also the expense associated with divorce. See this site for more info.