Are you, or someone you know, considering a divorce? Studies have found that more people file for divorce between January and March than any other time of the year which may be attributed to the stress of the holidays.

Before you consider divorce, ask yourself the following questions.

• What is the cost?
  • Not only do you need to consider the actual cost of the divorce, but the lifestyle change that will come after the divorce. According to George Mason University Sociology and law professor Lenore Weitzman in her book, The Divorce Revolution, we see a staggering drop in women’s household incomes, while men, on the other hand, see continued income growth. A typical woman endures a 73 percent reduction in her standard of living after a divorce. Her ex-husband enjoys a 42 percent increased standard of living.
• What is the emotional affect?
  • When people bring emotions into the divorce fight, the actual cost ends up rising due fear of the unknown. If you can take your emotions out of the equation, you will come out better off.
  • There is another emotional cost people tend to forget. Once you divorce, you will no longer be a couple. You have to figure out who you are outside of the marriage. This is where many people lose because they do not know their own identity. This is similar to losing a loved one. Even though you have fought and argued, you are still losing a piece of you.
• Can we become happy again?
  • Every couple, married or not, goes through difficult times. How you choose to deal with these issues will determine how your life will unfold. You can give up and try to find happiness again or you can face this together and possibly come out stronger than before.
  • You may need to look deeply into your relationship and seek professional help from an unbiased third party. Be ready to be honest with each other, and yourself, when taking this route. Both parties need to be equally committed to seeking help or this strategy will not work.
• Is this marriage worth saving?
  • Do you and your partner make an effort in the relationship?
  • Do you and your partner still find kind things to say about one another?
  • Do you and your partner still care for one another?
  • If you can answer yes to any of these questions, you may want to consider saving your marriage.

To schedule a consultation with an experienced family law attorney at Tom Bush Law Group, please call us at 704-347-0110