While it is not entirely true that a full half of all marriages entered into in the U.S. end in divorce, it is still pretty common; you probably know at least a handful of people who have gone through it themselves. Through these secondhand accounts, movies, television, and other influences, you have probably heard plenty of horror stories about the ordeal. We are here to bust six of these myths in this blog post. 

Myth No. 1: Divorce means you have failed in your personal life. Besides being a rather harsh assessment of your situation, it’s simply not true. You have chosen to divorce your spouse because you deserve to not be unhappy every day. Taking steps to find peace and joy is not a sign of failure. 

Myth No. 2: Divorce will irreparably damage your children. While it is impossible to predict how any given child will react to his or her parents’ divorce, in many cases, lifelong harm is not done. There are many steps you can (and should) take in order to minimize the amount of stress your children will feel during your divorce; as long as you remember to make your child’s environment as loving and peaceful as possible, everyone will make it through. 

Myth No. 3: Mothers have an advantage when it comes to custody of children. While it is true that, more often than not, mothers receive sole physical custody of their children, this does not happen by design. Going into negotiations, both parents have equal presumptions of access to their children. The overriding factor that guides custody determinations is the “best interest” of the children standard. 

Myth No. 4: If you are left with a small amount of marital property, you will not have to pay child support or alimony. The issues of support payments and property division are distinct areas in a divorce. Additionally, there is a set formula for child support amounts in Ohio that factors in each parent’s income. 

Myth No. 5: An unfaithful spouse will be punished in the divorce. Although adultery can be a reason for a fault-based divorce in Ohio, it generally has no bearing at all on the divorce settlement. One way it might affect the divorce settlement is if one spouse’s new partner would be detrimental to the wellbeing of the child. 

Myth No. 6: You can get by without a lawyer in your divorce. It is true that you have the right to represent yourself in any legal matters, but that is not a wise decision at all. Even in a dissolution of marriage (simplified divorce process), your attorney will be able to help you understand the relevant parts of the law and generally be an advocate who will look out for your interests. Going through divorce yourself could save money in the short-term but cost you way more in the long run. 

Charles Tyler, Sr., Esq. is concentrated on being a calming and competent legal presence for people who are going through difficult times. With his help, you will be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Whatever you’re going through, we want to help. Give us a call at 330-664-9919 today to get started with a caring and compassionate legal team.