Marriage and Divorce - Know your rights

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by: Hannah Nixon
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Word Count: 329
Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2011 Time: 9:33 AM
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Many people genuinely believe that marriages are made in heaven, and the concept of divorce must have been born in hell. However, that statement sounds soporific to me because it is akin to painting things in black and white, without spending enough effort on acknowledging the interspersed shades of grey.

Indeed, no sane couple planning to tie the knot purposely plans to get divorced some years down the line. However, there are situations wherein couples figure out that they do not love each other any more. The institution of marriage is based upon the concept of companionship with love being the glue that binds the couple. If that glue is missing, it is better to get divorced and move on, rather than staying put in a loveless marriage.

The decision to get divorced is not easy to make. Besides the pain of heartbreak and emotional distress, it could also mean a lot of financial duress for one or both parties. The legal fraternity therefore came up with the concept of alimony to help the aggrieved party tide over the financial duress post-divorce. The exact amount of alimony is hotly contested in family courts that preside on divorce petitions.

Therefore, one must seek professional assistance of a renowned divorce lawyer to determine the appropriate amount of alimony. Of course, the estranged spouse will typically claim a higher amount than you quote. However, that is exactly where your divorce lawyer will step in, and explain why your estranged spouse's claim is unjustified.

In some cases, divorce solicitors can even nullify the claims of alimony by explaining to the family court, why a specific behaviour such as adultery practices by your estranged spouse has forced you to seek divorce. However, courts are known to typically rule in favour of the wives, unless there is solid evidence that forces the judge to decide otherwise.

About the Author

I wrote this piece after recently going through a divorce and thought that those looking to get divorced might find the article of my meanderings of use. If you're seeking professional legal help regarding your divorce, look no further than the divorce solicitors in Leeds that is MCARAS.