Tucson Family Law Blog

Throughout your marriage, you probably lost count of the amount of money you and your spouse spent together. Perhaps you purchased a home and maybe a place to spend the summers. You likely bought furniture, appliances, clothing and vehicles, and you may have even splurged on fine art or antiques. Undoubtedly, you spent a great deal of money on your children.

Now that you are approaching divorce, you may be dreading the process of valuing and dividing these assets as equitably as possible. While you may feel strongly about certain assets that you want or don't want from the divorce, you would do well to remember that the court will also divide your debts in a similar manner.

You may have contemplated not filing for divorce because you did not want to disrupt your children's lives. As a parent, you think of their needs first, and you do not want to do anything that will bring them any type of pain or upset. Of course, if you and their other parent no longer get along, it may be best for everyone for you to go your separate ways.

You may have been the one to move out of the marital home while the divorce is pending. Because you needed a place on short notice, you may not have been too picky about your living arrangements. After all, you plan for them to be only temporary. However, you may want to keep in mind that your living accommodations could have an effect on child custody.

When parents go through a divorce, it is not just the parents and the children who experience changes because of this decision. The impacts of this decision can reverberate throughout an entire extended family, also affecting the relationship a kid has with his or her grandparents. This may leave some grandparents wondering if they have grounds to pursue custody or visitation. 

In some specific circumstances, grandparents may be able to seek visitation with their grandkids. In other cases, it may be appropriate for this extended family member to seek custody. If you are a grandparent and are wondering if Arizona laws provide you with the opportunity to preserve the relationship you have with your kids, you may want to seek experienced guidance to help you navigate this complex situation.

While you cannot control how other people react to things or what they do, you can take steps that will ensure you are not contributing to conflict. This may be an important thing for you to remember, especially if you will be co-parenting with a difficult former spouse. You may not be the source of the issues, but you can do things that will diffuse tension. 

Co-parenting with a toxic former spouse is difficult, and it can take a toll on your kids as well. This is why it can be helpful for you to find ways to reduce conflict and build mutual respect in any way possible. The finalization of your divorce will not magically end the difficult interpersonal issues between you and your former husband or wife, but it is for the best interests of the children that the both of you find ways to work together peacefully.