Is a “Kitchen Table Divorce” Right for Me?
When a couple sits down at their kitchen table – or anywhere else – and hammers out the details of their divorce, it is often referred to as a “kitchen table divorce,” and the process has some merit. Divorce, however, is a complicated life-event that can have dramatic and often unexpected repercussions, financial and otherwise, in your life. If you and your divorcing spouse are in agreement on the major issues, a kitchen table divorce can save you time, heartache, and money. It is always, however, in your best interest to consult with an experienced Central Texas divorce lawyer before proceeding with a legal event as significant as the dissolution of your marriage.
The Two Major Components of Divorce
There are two major components that must be resolved in any divorce that involves children who are not yet adults, and these are child custody arrangements and the just and right division of your marital property. Regardless of what is motivating you to seek a divorce, it is critical you recognize that signing off on either of these elements without guidance from professional legal counsel can have long-term and overarching negative consequences. Even if you feel confident about the stipulations you and your divorcing spouse have agreed upon, you and your children’s futures are far too important not to enlist an experienced Central Texas attorney to help ensure that your rights are well protected.
Important Considerations
Even a relatively simple divorce will often have many moving parts, and every divorce is utterly unique to its own circumstances. It is not difficult for important details to get lost in the process, and there are a lot of details to consider:
Making child custody arrangements that are in the best interest of your children
Determining child support payments that adequately reflect your children’s needs
Determining who will cover health insurance premiums for your children and how copayments and out of pocket expenses will be paid
Determining who will claim the children as dependents on their taxes
Separating marital property from personal property and dividing that marital property in a way that is just and right
Apportioning debt (a component of marital property)
These represent the basics, but this is often just a starting point. Divorce is overwhelming in the best of times, and trying to take care of the details on your own can lead to rookie mistakes and worse. Working with an experienced legal professional will provide you with the peace of mind that comes from knowing you have carefully considered the potential consequences of your divorce from every angle.
Do Not Sign Off on any Divorce without First Consulting an Experienced Central Texas Divorce Lawyer
Your divorce will continue to have financial and emotional reverberations in you and your children’s lives far into the future. Do not leave your divorce to chance; Attorney Brett H. Pritchard at The Law Office of Brett H. Pritchard in Central Texas has the experience, commitment, and compassion to help you. For more information, please contact or call us at (254) 220-4225 today.
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