Montgomery Family Law Blog

It's not unusual for a dependent spouse in Alabama to opt to keep the same set of financial professionals when a marriage comes to an end. The reasons for doing so may be for the sake of convenience or because of a desire to avoid the hassle of having one more thing on a post-marriage to-do list. However, it's generally advised that dependent spouses assemble a financial team more in tune with their needs and goals. This can be especially beneficial if it was the other person who maintained the relationships with various financial professionals.

Key financial pros typically include financial advisers and accountants. A financial adviser can come on board during the divorce process to help clients determine whether they can afford to keep the marital home. They can also offer input on a dependent spouse's financial outlook post-divorce and confirm that assets from financial accounts have been received or transferred.

Some divorcing parents in Alabama might wonder what type of custody arrangement is best for children. Barring circumstances such as abuse or neglect, most studies have found that children fare significantly better under joint custody. This seems to be the case even when they are toddlers or infants.

Researching dozens of studies, one psychologist found that not only did children benefit from shared custody arrangements but that based on contemporary child development ideas, there is no harm to having toddlers and infants spend the night with the father. More than 100 experts in the field endorsed these findings. Another researcher examined the differences between kids in sole and joint custody scenarios. She found that children in sole custody arrangements were more likely to suffer from stress-related illnesses, depression, anxiety and behavioral problems. Children in a joint custody arrangement had higher academic achievement, better physical and emotional health and better relationships with their parents and others. This held true even in high-conflict divorces and when the children were very young.

Alabama couples planning to tie the knot might want to get out of debt before getting married. For those who are already wedded, it's a good idea to make tackling debt a priority. According to a survey by Fidelity, over half of couples are already in debt when they enter a relationship. Around 40 percent of respondents said that financial burdens created a relationship strain. There are also cases in which couples do not start out in debt but they fall into it as they buy things in an attempt to save a strained marriage.

Couples who want to get out of debt must start by understanding exactly how much they owe. Many people underestimate how much student loan or credit card debt they have. They may also be embarrassed about having to make lifestyle changes to take care of deficits. However, once they begin to talk honestly with one another about the debt, they can begin solving the problem.

"Birdnesting" is a custody arrangement that some Alabama parents may try after divorce. With birdnesting, children remain in the family home while the parents switch in and out. Most of the time, the parents alternate living in a small apartment. The idea behind birdnesting is to give children a stable environment in which to start adjusting to their parents' divorce. However, experts say that if the arrangement goes on too long, it can be more detrimental than it is helpful.

Experts recommend limiting birdnesting to about three to six months. Beyond this point, they say children can start to feel anxiety about what their lives will be like as they split their time between households. Kids may also develop a false hope that their parents will get back together. Prolonging the arrangement also raises the likelihood that parents will start to run into conflict over sharing homes.