Once a divorce is finalized, you may find some relief as a weight is lifted off your shoulders. Unfortunately, a finalized divorce doesn't always mean you have had your last day in court. Many issues may arise after the divorce that come unexpectedly or are a necessity as you try to move on.
Learn about four issues you may encounter and how a lawyer can help you through the post-divorce process to keep everything running smoothly.
1. Relocations & Custody
If you and your ex-spouse entered into a child custody agreement, a majority of the agreement was likely based on your current living situation. In some cases, one of the parents may decide to relocate and turn the custody arrangement into a long-distance situation. Ideally, you want to figure out the details in mediation, but this is not always the case.
If you plan to relocate, your ex may push back on the custody arrangement and details of the case. By going to court, you can get permission to move from a judge so you do not violate any of the custody terms by moving. A lawyer will help make a case for the move, whether the move is professional or personal.
For example, you may want to move closer to other family members for extra support. If your spouse is the one moving, then a lawyer can help work out a custody agreement for longer periods of time. Instead of traveling every weekend, you can arrange for week-long visits that reduce the amount of transportation needed.
A lawyer will break down the details, represent your case in court, and help you achieve an ideal outcome.
2. Debt & Credit Issues
Even with a financial split in your divorce, you may find some lingering connections to debt and credit issues. Credit accounts can become complicated and you do not want your credit to go down because of poor financial decisions an ex-spouse has made.
For example, you may have old joint credit accounts that were stagnant and not a part of the divorce proceedings. After a divorce, you may still be a part of a joint account. A full credit report can detail any of the accounts you are a part of and what type of debt is associated with the reports.
An ex-spouse may have used your name to obtain credit or may still be an authorized user on an account. A lawyer can help bring the cases to court, remove you from the accounts, and adjust any divorce settlements to reflect the financial changes.
3. Alimony Payment Changes
When alimony is set during a divorce, the amount is not locked in for the foreseeable future. You always have the chance to head back to court and adjust the alimony as needed. A lawyer can showcase several factors that will impact alimony payments.
If you are currently paying alimony, you may request a change if you've had a significant loss of income or if your ex has had an increase in income. The increase in income could be from other sources than just a job, including remarriage or a financial gain from a will or estate.
4. Older Child Issues
During an initial divorce, you may not see potential issues that arise when a child gets older. A child may have medical changes or other lifestyle changes that require changes in custody or parental decisions. When the problems arise, your current custody agreement may not include the proper wording and can create problems not solved through mediation.
As a child enters their teen years, they make seek more independence and not a strict custody schedule. A lawyer can help navigate the child's needs and draft up new custody agreements for the court.
Consult with us at
Budget Divorce Center
with any divorce and post-divorce questions you have. We will help present your case and provide the expertise surrounding divorce law and court cases.