Three common divorce myths, debunked

A popular recent article from the Huffington Post highlights some major misconceptions that many people have about divorce. Are you guilty of believing any of these divorce myths?

Myth No. 1: All it takes to get divorced is signing some papers.

As anyone who has gone through a divorce will tell you, it usually involves much more than just signing papers, even if your divorce is uncontested.

There are many legal issues that need to be figured out during a divorce such as property division, child custody, child support and spousal support. Failing to address any of these issues during the divorce process can come back to haunt you years down the road.

Myth No. 2: If your spouse cheated, you will get more in the divorce.

Most states, including Texas, have no-fault divorce laws. That means you don’t have to have a specific reason for filing, other than that the marriage is no longer working. It also means that spouses who are guilty of adultery are not punished in the divorce.

Myth No 3: All of your property is just divided down the middle.

This is an especially common misconception in community property states like Texas. In reality, the judge presiding over the case has the authority to divided assets and liabilities according to what he or she believes is fair and equitable, which may mean a clean, 50-50 division, or may not.

Additionally, other factors also affect property division, such as martial versus separate property and prenuptial agreements.

The best way to learn more about divorce law and to put any other myths you have about divorce to rest is to meet with an experienced family law lawyer in your area.

Our Houston, Texas, law firm would be more than happy to meet with you in a free consultation to go over the specifics of your case and help you learn more about protecting your rights and interests in a potential divorce.