Job loss is hard at any time, but losing your job while you are going through divorce can be especially difficult. Since divorce will already have a large impact on your finances, the loss of your job is likely to make things even more complicated. When making decisions during the divorce process, it is important to consider all aspects of your financial situation, and a skilled attorney can help you understand how your employment will affect the outcome of your case.

Layoffs

In today’s unstable economic climate, it is hard to predict when companies will need to lay off employees. If you lose your job due to a layoff while you are going through divorce, it is important to let the court know of your situation. Since layoffs tend not to be the fault of an individual, the change in your financial situation should be taken into consideration in court. If you are required to pay spousal maintenance or child support, you may be able to adjust the amount of your obligations while you are actively looking for employment.

It is a sad statistic, but over 50% of marriages will end in divorce. Ending your marriage is not something that you decide to do spontaneously, but a decision that is weighed heavily before you act upon it. If you are planning on a divorce, it is important to think ahead and prepare for what you want your life to look like after the divorce has been finalized. This will help you avoid making irrational decisions and make sure that you come out of the situation with a plan for success. You will want to be sure to consider the following areas:

Finances

It is important to have a firm understanding of your financial situation before you file for divorce. This is necessary so that you know how much you will need in order to live independently. If you are seeking spousal maintenance (alimony) or expect to receive child support, you should consider how these payments will factor into your overall financial situation, but it is best to plan conservatively and limit your expenses as much as possible. Even if your divorce is mutual, both you and your former spouse will each be trying to gain as much financial advantage as possible, so you will want to be prepared for multiple possible outcomes.

Job Security

Regardless of how much alimony or child support you may receive, it is important to develop your own financial independence. If it seems that you might struggle to make ends meet on a single income, consider going back to school or enrolling in a work-training program to further your job qualifications. If you start your training or school before beginning the divorce process, the money spent to further these goals may be considered marital expenses rather than separate expenses.

Those who are looking to adopt a child may give an orphan the opportunity to have a future family and home, and this can be very beneficial for everyone involved. There are children all over the world who need homes, and international adoption allows parents to provide these children with the family life they need. However, the adoption process can be lengthy and difficult, and if you are considering adopting a child from another country, the legal steps to follow can be even more complicated and stressful. In recent years, countries like Ethiopia, South Korea, Romania, Guatemala, China, Kazakhstan, and Russia have all reduced the number of international adoptions allowed. In fact, between 2005 and 2015, international adoptions dropped by 72 percent, decreasing from 46,000 to 12,000, with only 5,500 children being adopted by U.S. parents.

Claims Regarding the Safety of Children

When reducing the number of international adoptions, some countries have stated that these decisions were made to ensure the safety of adoptive children. When banning or curtailing international adoptions to the U.S., Russia and Ethiopia both cited cases of negligence from American parents which resulted in a child’s death. However, research has shown that in the past two decades, only 19 children who were adopted from Russia by U.S. parents died because of abuse or neglect, out of a total of 60,000 adoptive children. This statistic has led some to believe that these bans are not motivated by a desire for child safety, but are in fact related to international politics.

Politics and International Adoption

International relations heavily impact whether or not a country will allow its children to be adopted by parents from another country. For example, Russia stopped adoptions to the United States two weeks after the U.S passed the Magnitsky Act in 2012. This law imposed sanctions on some Russian officials who had been accused of corruption, and the adoption ban was apparently implemented in response. This is far from the only instance of adoption bans being motivated by politics; South Korea temporarily banned international adoptions after a bad year at the 1988 Olympics, and it was believed that they no longer wanted to “export their greatest commodity.”

Marriages end for a variety of different reasons, and divorce sometimes occurs because personalities clash and the relationship can no longer survive. In some cases, spouses may be able to work out their differences and end their marriage amicably, but if your ex-partner is a narcissist, you may face challenges in the divorce process.

Narcissism is a mental condition in which someone has a higher than average ego, a need for validation, troubled relationships, and a lack of empathy for others. Narcissistic people often have very low self-esteem and are sensitive to the tiniest criticisms. If you are planning to end your relationship with a narcissistic spouse, the following tips can help you prepare for the difficulties you may face:

Assemble a Strong Support System

Narcissists are good at charming people and winning them over. During the divorce process, your ex-spouse may attempt to get friends and family members on their side and turn them against you. If you are considering ending your marriage, you should tell people you trust about your plans and, if necessary, share the reasons why your relationship has broken down. This way, if your ex-partner tries to convince them of a different story, they will know the truth. In addition, these people can offer you much-needed support as you deal with the stress of ending your relationship.

Resolving legal issues in family court can be an incredibly stressful experience, and the decisions made will have a major impact on your own life and the lives of your children and other family members. However, by working with an experienced attorney, you can be prepared to address the legal concerns in a divorce or family law case. Here are some tips to help avoid stress during this crucial time:

1. Keep Calm in Court

It is important to remain calm, collected, and professional when in front of a judge. This can sometimes be difficult, since family court usually involves what was once a loving relationship that has now turned sour. Each party is experiencing a variety of emotions, and because of this, tensions can run high. However, it is important to avoid the temptation to lose your cool in court, as any outbursts, displays of anger, or unnecessary comments can have a negative influence on the judge’s decisions. In many cases, it is best to let your attorney speak for you and limit what you say to basic statements of the facts or answers to the judge’s questions.