Roanoke Legal Blog

The end of a relationship is always difficult, even when couples in Virginia are committed to splitting as amicably as possible. When a divorce involves two wealthy individuals living under a microscope who have six children together, the potential for conflict is even more understandable. In fact, recent court filings regarding Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie question whether Pitt is paying an appropriate amount of child support.

The couple was married for two years before they separated in 2016. The time period since their separation has included several contentious interactions, even including allegations of abuse against Pitt. He has since been cleared of those allegations. In recent court filings, Jolie argues that Pitt has not contributed any meaningful child support since their separation, leaving her to shoulder the majority of the expenses related to the children.

Before couples in Virginia ultimately come to the conclusion that the best option is to end their marriage, there is likely a great deal of conversation and thought that occurs. Often, there is also a great deal of contention and hurt feelings that occur as well. Often, parents are left trying to decide how to talk with their children and what to say their children about the decisions to divorce.

It is understandable that children will have several questions about their parents' decision to end their marriage. Before answering these questions, some professionals recommend putting careful thought into what information parents are willing to provide. For example, knowing how much information that parents are willing to reveal can help provide parameters for the conversation.

The vast majority of people who make the decision to marry do so with the intention of spending the rest of their lives with the person that they wed. However, people change over the course of their lives, sometimes significantly. These changes often mean that two people are no longer compatible, making a divorce the best option for everyone in a family.

In fact, some statistics indicate that Virginia has a relatively high divorce rate with approximately one in 10 making the decision to end their marriage. Though it is often the first step to a happier life, many people find it a difficult process. Fortunately, there are measures that people can take to ease the process.

When a couple in Virginia makes the decision to marry, they are likely aware of the multiple decisions that they must make. For many, their focus is on the venue where the ceremony will be held and what food they will serve. However, many legal professionals urge engaged couples to consider creating a prenuptial agreement.

When some people get married, they already have a career and significant assets. Some may already have children that they wish to protect and ensure receive adequate care if something were to happen resulting in the parent's death. While some people may want to shy away from what could be a difficult conversation, having a prenup in place has many benefits.