Houston Family Law & Divorce Attorneys

Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny
Call Today! 713.936.2300
  • Home
  • Firm Overview
  • Attorneys
  • Divorce
  • Family Law
  • Estate Planning
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Call Today
  • Email Us
  • Our Map
  • Menu
Blog 2018 December 6 Divorce Terms Everyone Should Know
Previous Post  |  Next Post

6 Divorce Terms Everyone Should Know

Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny || 31-Dec-2018

Are you going through a divorce? As commonplace as divorce may seem, the legal aspects of a divorce can still be extremely complex and difficult to navigate. From the get-go, you will have several decisions to make in regards to your wishes and goals, most of which will impact your personal life and financial situation for years to come. In order to adequately prepare yourself for your divorce, make sure you are familiar with some of the most common divorce terms.

Before you begin your divorce, discover the significance of these fundamental divorce terms:

1. Alimony: Alimony, also called spousal support or spousal maintenance, is a form of payment one spouse makes to the other during or after the divorce. Alimony payments are meant to help the lesser earning spouse pay for basic living essentials or to help maintain the same state of living enjoyed during the marriage.

2. Annulment: In some cases, couples may seek to completely eliminate their marriage rather than ending it. An annulment makes it so that the marriage never existed, legally speaking, whereas a divorce ends the marriage, but still acknowledges its existence. Annulments are only granted in extreme circumstances, usually because one spouse was deceived, forced, or mentally incapacitated.

3. Equitable Distribution: When property is divided in a divorce, the court will follow a rule known as equitable distribution. Through this policy, all of the assets owned by the married couple will be divided in a way that is fair, but not necessarily equal.

4. Modification: Even after the court makes a decision, modifications may be possible later on down the line. For example, you may seek to modify your child custody agreement if your parenting roles alter or you may ask to modify a spousal support agreement if your financial situation changes.

5. Parenting Plan: If a divorcing couple has children from the marriage, they will need to negotiate a child custody arrangement, which is also called a parenting plan. The parenting plan will address who is the child’s custodial parent and what the other parent’s visitation rights are, or it will outline the parents’ shared custody agreement. Parenting plans might also outline spousal support agreements and other major parenting decisions.

6. Prenuptial / Postnuptial Agreement: Before the marriage even takes place, couples may opt to create a prenuptial agreement, which is an official legal document that gives specific instructions in the event of a divorce. Prenups can include directions for property division, spousal support, and child custody. Couples might also create a postnuptial agreement, which is essentially the same but takes place after the marriage.

If you are going through a divorce, don’t try to go through the legal battle alone. Discuss your options today with an experienced divorce attorney.

Contact the Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny today to discuss your divorce case with our Houston family law lawyers.

Categories: Divorce, Family Law

Share Post

Divorce

How Can We Help You?

  • Child Custody
  • Child Support
  • Contested Divorce
  • Collaborative Divorce
  • Divorce Mediation
  • High-Net Worth Divorce
  • Property Division
  • Spousal Maintenance
  • Uncontested Divorce
  • Visitation

Contact The Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny

Put More Than Three Decades Of Experience To Work For You

Send My Information
  • Home
  • Site Map
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny
Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny - Houston Family Law Attorney
14701 St. Mary's Lane, Suite 315, Houston, TX 77079 View Map
Main (713) 936-2300
Website: https://www.marteenylaw.com
© 2021 All Rights Reserved.
Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny @MartyeenyLaw
map of location
Internet Marketing Experts