Roanoke Legal Blog

The process of dissolving a marriage can unfortunately be challenging for both parents and children in Virginia. Specifically, deciding how to deal with co-parenting can be challenging. However, a couple of steps can help divorcing parents to make this process easier for their children.

First, it is important that a divorcing parent does not automatically assume that the other party will be a bad parent. The two parties might not necessarily like each other's behavior. However, the reality is that both parties likely value spending time with their shared children. Thus, it would behoove the two parents to strive to create a custody agreement that allows both parties to remain active in the children's lives.

The idea of getting divorced may be a welcome one for individuals in Virginia who are not happy with their marriages. Still, the divorce process can be complicated on both an emotional and financial standpoint. This is why taking steps to be prepared for this process as early as possible is critical.

When it comes to the emotional aspect of divorce, a spouse who is pursuing divorce may be wise to enlist the help of a mental health expert right away. This type of expert can help the individual through the process of seeking meaning during his or her divorce journey. This is necessary to avoid blaming the other person for the divorce as well as blaming oneself for the end of the marriage.

Ending a marriage is never a straightforward process in Virginia. Unfortunately, if two divorcing individuals have a large number of assets or some high-value assets, the process can become even trickier. Here is a look at how Virginia courts handle the divorce process in these situations.

Virginia is an equitable distribution state, a term that describes most states across the United States. In this type of state, the court will divide two divorcing individuals' possessions in a manner that it considers to be fair, or equitable. Thus, two divorcing spouses in Virginia may end up with unequal asset amounts as part of the divorcing process. For instance, one person may receive 70% of assets, whereas the other party might be awarded 30% of the couple's shared assets.

The divorce process can unfortunately be stressful for both parents and their young children in Virginia. Likewise, co-parenting in the aftermath of the divorce can be challenging. However, divorcing parents can take a couple of steps to make these life-altering experiences easier for the children to deal with going forward.

For one, it is essential for parents who are getting a divorce to frequently speak with their children about how they feel. For instance, they can ask the children how they are doing as well as what they need. The more they can express their feelings during the divorce journey, the less alone they will feel in the process.