No one plans for a divorce – and absolutely no one plans for a second divorce. However, people do grow apart, issues arise, and divorce does happen. For some, divorce happens twice or even more times.
When confronted with a second or third divorce, many approach the situation with more wisdom and more experience than those experiencing their first divorce. However, it is important to understand that a second divorce can come with new issues and more complexities.
Let’s take a closer look:
- Stepchildren and complicated child custody issues. During your second marriage, you may have started a family – or you may have helped raise children from a spouse’s previous marriage (or vice versa). Your ex-spouse may have also remarried and welcomed more children. When it comes to a second divorce, this can mean complicated child custody issues, questions of visitation, and a tough evaluation of relationships.
- A reevaluation of your future plans. When you divorced your first spouse, it likely affected your retirement plans, your life insurance, your will, your investments, and your long-term financial planning. When you divorce again, these issues may become increasingly complex, especially if both marriages lasted for a significant amount of time. In some cases, you may find yourself with multiple child support or spousal support payments.
- More complicated money matters. It’s no secret that divorce can negatively affect your finances – the legal costs are very real, and living and working on your own can add up. Two divorces means splitting your assets twice, while divorcing later in life can mean losing a large portion of your nest egg, especially if you did not have a prenuptial agreement. There also may be more children involved in a second divorce, which often means more people who need support.
Of course, just because a second divorce comes with some unique complications doesn’t mean that you should continue in an unhappy marriage. Our Seattle divorce attorneys can help you through the process of your second divorce and get you to where you need to be: a new chapter in your life. Call the Law Offices of Molly B. Kenny today to schedule a private appointment.
