Hartford Divorce Law Blog

If you're considering a divorce in Connecticut and children are involved, you are probably wondering what the outcome of child support payments will be. You might even be wondering what it will take to either not have to pay, or to make sure you are paid.

Fortunately, in Connecticut, there are specific factors and calculations used to determine how much is paid and by whom. The child support guidelines are cut and dried. Your divorce attorney can tell you what the outcome will be if you already know what the child custody agreement will be between you and your spouse. Visiting your attorney and discussing this ahead of filing for a divorce may help set your expectations.

If you are considering a divorce in Connecticut and you have children, you should make sure you know the laws regarding child custody. The way that those laws might affect child custody decisions in your divorce will be important and could influence your next move.

The first thing you should know is that in Connecticut, parents are usually allowed to come up with their own custody arrangement if they can agree on one. If your attorney presents an agreement made by both parties to the court and the agreement appears to be in the best interests of the child(ren), the court will usually approve the agreement.

When it comes to things that spouses have disputes about in a divorce, it might surprise you to know that the top three are alimony, retirement accounts and business interests. Alimony ranks 83 percent, retirement accounts 62 percent and business interests 60 percent.

If you are in the process of a divorce and you or your spouse have 401(k)s or retirement accounts, making sure no mistakes are made in splitting these accounts is very important. While the way they are divided must be included in your divorce papers, you must also have a separate agreement that you will want drafted by an attorney who has experience in this area.

Getting a divorce is an important, life-changing event. The divorce process won't last forever before your new life begins. Now you will have to live with the actions you have taken and the decisions you and your ex have made. Below are some mistakes that you should avoid during the divorce process if at all possible:

1. Making quick decisions: Most people are an emotional mess while in the process of a divorce. Take your time when making decisions. Be sure they are made using reason and not emotions.
2. Taking advice from family or friends: Clearly you are not the only one divorced in your circle of friends and family, and everyone has some advice to give. Listen if you will, but remember that your situation is uniquely yours. Make your own decisions.
3. Playing revenge tactics: Decisions made during a divorce can be permanent. Don't put yourself or your children through a nasty divorce. You will only make matters worse; nothing good can come from this.
4. Making demands that you know are unreasonable: You need to be negotiable. Remember, you are only half of two parties who have to move on with their lives. The more unreasonable you become, the more unreasonable your soon-to-be ex will probably become. Be fair in your negotiations, working toward an equitable distribution of assets and equal custody of children.
5. Not having a plan: Be thinking about your future and what your needs are going to be. If your divorce is based on just the here and now, your decisions are not going to be realistic. You may give away too much or demand too much. Be preparing for life after.
6. Comparing your divorce with others: Just because something worked well for another couple doesn't mean it will work for you and your spouse. Everyone's situation is different.
7. Failing to request security for child support or alimony: If alimony or child support is a part of your agreement, request a backup life insurance policy, trust or other security in the event the payee dies.

Your attorney will probably remind you of many of these tips. Whether you are in a high-asset divorce process or a low-income divorce process, remember to listen to your attorney's advice and take your time making reasonable (and not emotional) decisions.