Common Divorce Fears~2 min read

Psychiatrists and psychologists consider divorce the second most stressful life event, coming in slightly behind the stress of losing a spouse to death. Part of the stress is attributed to fears spouses have of the unknown.

Life is changing. For some, the change is so dramatic they are overwhelmed with sadness. Our family law attorneys at Springer & Lyle find they can be more helpful to their divorcing clients if they can alleviate some of the client’s fears and refer them to professionals when it seems appropriate.

Fear of the Unknown

The initial fear seems to be the fear of the unknown. What will their new life look like? If one spouse does not want the divorce, this fear is generally complicated by overwhelming sadness and insecurity. The spouse fears not only what will happen to them financially and with the children, but also fears they may lose their friends.

Fears Financial Issues Will Cause Unpleasant Life Changes

The reality is that the assets that have been used to support one household will now need to support two. Often, one party to the divorce is unaware of the couple’s financial situation. There may be unknown bank accounts, retirement plans, or real estate that is owned.

Texas is a community property state, which means all assets and liabilities accumulated by the couple during the marriage belong equally to both spouses. When a financial professional can go over all the financial documents and educate the spouses on what the true financial picture is, fears can be alleviated.

If the focus can be changed from, “How much can I get,” to “How can we come to a fair agreement that benefits us both,” a financial settlement plan can be formulated that can alleviate this fear.

Fear About What Will Happen to the Children

It is common for both spouses to worry about how the children will adjust to the new living situation. Some things that concern them are:

• Will the children remain with one parent and continue living in the family home?
• Will the family have to give up the family home and relocate?
• Will the children live with one parent and only visit the other one, or will the children go back and forth between the parents on a fairly equal time-sharing basis?
• Will there be lifestyle changes, or will the children still be able to participate in extracurricular activities?

At Springer & Lyle, our family law attorneys recognize the major life event changes that come with divorce. We approach each case based on our client’s unique situation. Please contact Daniel Abasolo at 940-387-0404 to schedule a consultation.