Statistically, about 50 percent of all first marriages will end in divorce, that’s five out of every ten! And you know what? The chances of divorce increase with each subsequent marriage. So, if you’re on the road to divorce, you have plenty of company.
Even if you think you know a lot about divorce (perhaps you’re a child of divorce), we’ll tell you that there’s probably a lot you don’t know. Not only that but like snowflakes, no two divorces are alike. In light of that last statement, this is article is Part 3 in a series of shocking things about divorce. We encourage you to read on, this way you’re not caught by surprise if any of the following things happen to you.
What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You
When it comes to divorce, what you don’t know can definitely hurt you and, in our experience, there’s a lot that the average person doesn’t know about divorce, especially if they’ve never gone through it before. Here are some things you should know:
- You can’t stop paying child support if you can’t see your kids. Child support and child custody are two separate matters. If you fall too far behind, you’ll be subject to all kinds of negative enforcement tactics, including driver’s license suspension, bank levies, wage garnishment, and the denial of US passport.
- If you denigrate or criticize your ex (parental alienation), it can impact child custody, even if you are awarded primary custody initially. The courts frown upon it so much, that a parent can be fined and held in contempt of court if they are found to be engaging in parental alienation.
- You have to pay child support no matter what. It can’t be discharged in bankruptcy and you will owe it forever until it’s paid off in full.
- Adultery does not bar a cheating spouse from receiving spousal support in California – California judges are not concerned about marital misconduct when it comes to alimony.
- Domestic violence can bar an abusive spouse from receiving spousal support from a higher-earning spouse. It helps tremendously if there is evidence of abuse, such as a domestic violence restraining order or a conviction for domestic violence.
Want to read more shocking things about divorce? See Part 1 and Part 2 of this series. If you’re looking for an attorney to represent you, contact our firm directly to request a consultation. We can be reached at (949) 565-4158.
