Statistically, the odds were not in your favor—about half of all first marriages and two-thirds of second marriages end in divorce. For third marriages, the divorce rate is over 70 percent. And yes, sometimes things go wrong because you make the same mistakes you did before. But no matter who’s to blame, second marriages can create a particularly stressful situation when a blended family is thrown together.
More kids, more money, more complications
If you’re facing your second (or third, fourth, or fifth) divorce, you already know something about what to expect. But each divorce experience is unique, because the personalities and circumstances are entirely different. Just because you’ve been through it before doesn’t make it any easier. In fact, things could be a lot more complicated this time, since now you may have children from both marriages and more financial assets than when you were younger. You might still be paying alimony and child support from your first marriage, which also complicates your financial situation.
Ideally, you and your spouse made a pre-nuptial agreement—but even then, things can get messy. Complications can arise when an agreement was poorly drafted, or simply didn’t anticipate your current situation.
Find an expert you can trust
There are a lot of issues to navigate. That’s why it is especially important that you get an expert divorce attorney who is familiar with the many, complicated issues that can come up when a second marriage dissolves. You’ll want to find someone who you really trust and feel comfortable working with. At Kendall Gkikas & Mitchell, LLP, we specialize in family law and have over 20 years of experience handling difficult divorce cases of all kinds.
DIY Divorce?
There are also a lot of options for divorce—do you want to represent yourself, go to mediation, or fight it out in court? You may be thinking of representing yourself. After all, if you’ve been through it before, you know the ropes, right? Maybe you spent a lot of money on your previous divorce, and still were not happy with the results.
But you should first talk to a family law attorney about your options. While there can never be any guarantees about how a divorce order will turn out, getting the right attorney can be an invaluable investment. Even if you think your divorce is simple and straightforward, it makes sense to first talk to an expert divorce attorney about the issues you’ll be facing this time around. This can definitely be a situation where it makes sense to pay a professional to get things done right.
How can I make this divorce better than the last?
If this is not your first divorce, it can be especially frustrating to feel like you’re right back where you started. But you’ve learned a lot along the way, and that will help you move forward with the future. There is a lot of good advice on this website and others about how to take care of yourself, work with your ex, and make the transition easier for yourself and your children. But the most important thing you can do for yourself to make this divorce better than the last is to find an experienced attorney that you trust.
If you have questions about your Southern California divorce, call 909-482-1422 or email info@parents4children.com to set up your initial consultation today.
