Preventing a traumatic divorce through professional help

Preventing a traumatic divorce through professional help

Some divorce proceedings are smooth and end in good relations between the ex-partners. However, some divorces are so traumatic that they leave behind only anger and pain. That type of divorce can be traumatic, creating psychological challenges and making some feel overwhelmingly vulnerable and unable to cope. It can even cause flashbacks. It can lead to unwanted litigation, public displays of anger or even physical aggressiveness. Such a divorce can result in dramatic variations in one’s behavior owing to instability and insecurity. Couples in love set out feeling trusting and safe, but, in the end, when considering divorce, they may find themselves coping with abandonment and betrayal.

Dealing with a divorce calls for thinking smart, despite hurt feelings. Spouses considering divorce stand to lose half of their marital property and any assets acquired after marriage. More importantly, their family is torn apart. Just reaching an agreement about property division, alimony, child custody arrangements and visitation plans can be stressful and disturbing. Each spouse needs to act intelligently to avert dire financial consequences after the divorce.

Under Illinois law, both partners are entitled to a fair share of investments and other marital property. However, certain factors, such as the earning capacity of each partner, the standard of living of the couple after marriage, the duration of the marriage, and the like, play an important part in property division.

In Illinois, the law of equitable distribution is used during divorce proceedings, and divorce can be filed under a fault or no-fault grant. The Illinois Divorce Act states that financial aid like alimony, property distribution and child support are made irrespective of marital misconduct. However, there is a residency requirement in that one of the spouses has to be a resident of Illinois for 90 days or more before filing for divorce.

Source: The Huffington Post, “The traumatic divorce: 6 ways to heal,” Mark Banschick, Feb. 08, 2013.