The determination of alimony (also known as spousal support or spousal maintenance) can be one of the most complex and potentially contentious aspects of a divorce settlement. Mediation is a great way to settle not only complex and sensitive issues in a divorce, but all aspects of divorce. The courts in Minnesota often refer divorcing couples to use mediation to help with their divorce process.
If you and your spouse have children and have made the decision to divorce, you have already spent significant time and energy determining how best to move forward keeping your children in mind. The fact is that divorce is extremely difficult on the children in a marriage. Kids do not have a say in whether their parents divorce or stay together. Children are put in a situation where they are forced to adjust to the big change. There are things that you
If you share custody with your ex, one of the biggest transitions after a divorce is adjusting to not seeing your child (or children) each and every day. It can be emotionally difficult for all involved – for the adults as well as for the kids. Sharing custody may be ultimately what is best for you, your ex and your children, but the specifics of the child custody agreement are difficult to sort out during a divorce
It is a somewhat common myth that the court system favors the mother in divorce custody disputes. These assumptions are based on the long held tradition that mothers are, generally speaking, more often the primary caregivers for the children in a family. Today, however, it is just as common for mothers to work outside the home and child custody agreements are based on what is in the best interest of the children, not on who spends more time at home…
If you have a child-custody agreement with your former spouse, you may find it necessary to make a simple modification to that agreement. Similarly, if your former spouse approaches you about needing to make a simple child custody modification, you need not necessarily respond as if it is a major problem. In most cases, modifying a child custody agreement can be done without much difficulty or involving the courts. However, if your relationship with your former spouse is strained, you may at first perceive the request as a major inconvenience. In virtually all circumstances pertaining to child custody modification, though, the team at AMS Mediation can be helpful.
The communication between most divorcing couples is filled with a lot of emotion. After all, you and your spouse tried unsuccessfully to make your marriage work and you likely have very different views on why things went wrong in the marriage and whose fault it was. When you sign your divorce papers (especially if you share children), you end one phase of your relationship and begin another. You must nearly instantly shift from being married to co-parenting. During this time, you must also shift your focus from looking back on your unsuccessful marriage to looking forward toward building a new life for yourself. Changing your communication style can be extremely helpful during this time.