Having an adult child does not complicate the divorce process

Ending a marriage is challenging for both spouses, and it becomes more complicated when a couple has children together.  It is not only emotionally stressful, but you must also deal with numerous legal processes. But we're here to help! It's great to have a family law attorney helping guide you through this process. If your children were still minors, you and your spouse would inevitably have to decide on child custody, visitation, parenting plans, and child support issues. Child custody and child support issues are handled differently when a child reaches adulthood. A court cannot make any orders about the adult child's living arrangements. The child support requirement will remain for an adult child only if: The child has not graduated from high school and is still in schoolThe child is mentally or physically incapable of self-supportParents agree to support the child beyond age eighteen Spouses are equal in terms of their rights in divorce. Either spouse: Can file for a divorceCan receive alimony (spousal support). The general rule is that a spouse who earned less is entitled to alimonyHas rights to marital property that was acquired during the marriage. Marital property is divided between spouses according to states laws and a spouse's agreement or a court's ruling  Before filing for divorce, you can reach preliminary agreements with your spouse about major divorce issues, such as alimony and division of property and debts. You can try mediation, a process through which a neutral mediator will help you reach an agreement. If you can find common ground, your divorce process will be much easier. You can file for an uncontested divorce and do not need to litigate. Otherwise, a court will step in and help you decide on divorce issues. Such a type of divorce is called contested. Generally, the process for an uncontested divorce differs from the process for a contested one. However they both include the same steps. To get a divorce with an adult child, you should:  Check if you satisfy the residency requirements of a state where you file for a divorceGet an index number (number of your divorce case) and pay the filing fee Understand what type of divorce you will file for (uncontested or contested). A contested divorce applies when one spouse disagrees with the other on at least one divorce issueOne spouse files a Petition for divorce (this spouse is called the petitioner) and necessary court forms for a petitioner that can be obtained from a court's website or from the courtA summons and a petition should be served (delivered) on the other spouse (this spouse is called the respondent) Respondent files an Answer to a petition and other court forms for a respondent that may be necessary. They can be obtained from a court's website or the courtSpouses complete and exchange Financial disclosures, documents that include information about each spouse's financial situation during divorce proceedings. Spouses also engage in Divorce discovery, a legal process that allows the spouses to request information from each other formally and third-party witnesses (for example, written questions, subpoenas, and depositions)If you and your spouse agree on divorce issues by yourself, you can file it with a court in the form of a Divorce Settlement Agreement to your divorce application and ask the court to approve it. If your case involves a child support issue, try to reach an agreement on itAttend a court trialYou have a possibility to appeal a court's decision on your divorce case Get a Judgment of Divorce signed by a judge. This document officially ends your marriage  Please remember that divorce inevitably affects children's physical and emotional states during a divorce. To make divorce more manageable, try to keep kids away from the messier parts of it, and don't forget to give them your love.  Since your divorce case concerns not only your rights but also the rights of your children, we advise you to contact a lawyer. Hiring a lawyer reduces stress, helps you achieve a better outcome, and mitigates further litigation risks.