Author: Matt

You got married when you were 20. You were young and in love — a fairly classic situation. However, like many young marriages, it turned out to be a mistake. A few years later, you got divorced.

You have now gotten married for a second time. You’re older. You’re more experienced. You have been through all of this. Are you now “better” at marriage and less likely to split up again?

While every individual can make an argument for their own case, when you look at the statistics, it’s clear that this is not what usually happens. According to some studies, about half of first marriages end in divorce. By second marriages, it jumps to around two-thirds. And for third marriages? At 74%, the vast majority of them lead to a divorce.

Why is this? Again, everyone may have their own reasons. Some suggest that they’re just more comfortable with divorce now, having done it once. It doesn’t feel as confusing or intimidating, and they know they can get through it and move on with a happy life. In other cases, the relationships just get too complicated. Maybe you have children from your first marriage, for instance, and so you still have to see your ex. After a time, that can lead to stress for your new spouse and it could bring about a second divorce.

No matter what your individual situation looks like, just make sure you know what your rights are. Divorce happens, you do have options, and you need to know exactly how to move forward with this process.

Your wedding day is inching closer and you’ve yet to discuss the creation of a prenuptial agreement with your fiance. While it’s a challenging topic to tackle, it’s the responsible thing to do.

It’s easy to make a mistake when asking for a prenuptial agreement. After all, this isn’t something with which you have a lot of experience (if you even have any).

When asking for a prenuptial agreement, here are three mistakes you want to avoid:

• Forcing your partner to cooperate: Not only will this result in bad blood, but it may invalidate the prenuptial agreement in the event of a future divorce. Don’t make your partner feel that they have to sign a prenuptial agreement. It should be something you mutually agree upon.
• Ignoring their feelings: You need to focus just as much on your partner’s feelings and concerns as your own. This is the only way for the two of you to get on the same page.
• Waiting too long: You have a lot on your plate as you prepare for your wedding. If you wait too long, you may find yourself making rash decisions that could affect you in the future. Give yourself as much time as possible to create a prenuptial agreement.

There’s a lot that goes into asking for and creating a prenuptial agreement. Once you and your partner discuss the details and have a plan for moving forward, you can get started.

You’re not required to create a prenuptial agreement before you tie the knot, but there are many benefits of doing so. It’s something you should at least consider.

When you got married in a Texas courthouse or church, you no doubt assumed you were going to spend the rest of your life with the person at your side. Fast forward 10, 20 or more years and things may not have turned out the way you’d hoped. Marriage can be difficult, and while some spouses are able to resolve their differences, others choose to go their separate ways rather than remain in an unhappy relationship.

If you have children, making a decision to divorce will greatly affect their lives. However, most family court judges in Texas believe that children fare best in such situations if they have an opportunity to spend ample time with both parents. Many parents find they have certain issues in common when they determine whether they can restore their marital relationships or are choosing to file for divorce.

Do you relate to these issues?

Your marriage and family life is unique; however, you may be able to relate to the issues included in the following list, which many spouses say were causal factors toward their own divorce:

• Constant bickering and arguing reportedly weakens many marital relationships to the point that spouses would rather sever their ties than keep living in an atmosphere full of confrontation.
• Do you feel that your spouse lacks commitment to your relationship? This is also a common factor that prompts people to file for divorce.
• It’s a fact that marital infidelity can permanently damage spousal relationships. This remains as one of the top causes of divorce in Texas and across the country.
• Have financial problems or arguments over money caused a rift between you and your spouse? Many spouses say they’d rather live alone than fight over every penny.
• Lack of preparation for marriage is another big concern for many spouses who are contemplating divorce. If you feel like you had no idea what to expect in marriage or that you did not receive the advice or guidance you may have needed, this issue might be causing problems in your relationship.
• Religious differences are also common factors in many divorces. You might not have thought it was a big deal that you and your intended spouse practiced different faiths, but you later realized it was causing more problems in your relationship than you thought it might.
• If you and your spouse are always at odds on child-related issues, you can likely relate to other parents who say this was a leading factor in their divorce.

The good news is that children are adaptable and resilient by nature. If you are headed for divorce, it pays to build a strong support network from the start. It’s less important what types of issues have led to your divorce than gathering the tools you need to help your kids cope with the situation and move on in life.

Take one step at a time

Many of the issues mentioned earlier can cause obstacles or delays toward achieving a fair and agreeable settlement. It’s critical that you know your parental rights and how to protect them. Like all good parents, you want what’s best for your children, so it’s equally important to make sure their best interests are the central focus of all proceedings.

In recent years, some experts say that parental alienation has been on the rise. Do you know what this syndrome is and how it begins? Moreover, do you know how it could impact your relationship with your child after a divorce?

Essentially, it is when one parent attempts to cause the child to reject the other parent. They turn the child against them. It is a form of manipulation that allows them to control how much the child wants to see that parent and how close they are.

For instance, the child custody agreement may say that the parents have to split custody. A father may want to harm the mother’s relationship with the child, but he knows he has to follow the court order. He can’t keep them apart. What he can do is manipulate the child so that they slowly turn against the mother and does not want to see her. This is often done by lying, exaggerating, insulting and working to make the child feel angry, withdrawn or even fearful.

This is a serious issue because children grow and develop best when they have strong relationships with both parents. This is true before and after divorce. Parental alienation harms not just that relationship, but the child’s own future. The child doesn’t understand it is happening and it can be heartbreaking for the other parent.

Has this been happening to you or are you worried that it will? Have you been unable to see your children less than your custody agreement allows? You need to know what legal steps you can take to protect your rights and your relationship with your kids.