Unfortunately in our present world, overcompensation seems to be the name of the game most especially in the divorce arena where men's rights are overlooked quite often. While we certainly don't want to return to the days when women were subservient and had few rights or privileges, "equal" means just that, and quite often men do not receive fair and equitable treatment from the courts during a divorce. As a man, a divorce decree will have the same profound impact on you as it will for your ex-wife, or any woman for that matter. During this time when your defenses are already down you could find yourself suffering both emotional and financial devastation that will be difficult to overcome in the years ahead.
Critical Divorce Issues
Many men feel they can handle the pressure of a divorce alone, or perhaps they feel that others think they should be able to handle the pressure, so their grief and distress is turned inward and is not as readily visible to the outside world. Men tend to suffer alone, and in silence so others may not realize how the divorce is really affecting you. If you are contemplating divorce, or are smack in the middle of a divorce, you must be super-aware of the following issues which will be greatly impacted:
- Child Custody
- Visitation Rights
- Child Support
- Alimony
- Property Division
- Changes to parenting plans
- Representation of military fathers
- Restraining orders and unsubstantiated charges of domestic violence or abuse
Child Custody for Men
Men typically lose custody of their children (almost ninety percent of the time), during a divorce and even when they do win custody they seldom receive child support. In addition, a father who seeks custody of his children can find himself the target of numerous false accusations made by a bitter ex-wife. In many cases during a contentious divorce a woman will fraudulently use a Domestic Violence order against her husband in order to get the upper hand in the custody case. It is crucial that you have a divorce attorney on your side who can protect your rights and interests, and fight to gain partial or full custody of your children. Your ex-wife may attempt to turn your children against you and the children you once shared a loving bond with may now reject you, want to spend less time with you and even claim to hate you. This parental alienation can be devastating for you, and it is imperative that you have a close friend or relative who will help you through these tough times.
Financial Considerations
Many states require you to pay alimony to your ex-wife, and in some cases it can be as much as 25% of your monthly net income. Add child support on top of that and you may find yourself working long hours, yet reaping few benefits from the salary you earn. It is much more common than people think for a man to be taken advantage of during the division of marital assets. An experienced divorce attorney can track down hidden assets and advocate for a fair property settlement which will include all assets such as retirement funds, pension plans, house division, stocks, and other real estate investments.
