Posts in Divorce

The loss of property is one of the biggest fears in any divorce. It’s scary to enter this situation without a clear idea of what you could keep and what you could lose. Unfortunately, there are no easy answers to this dilemma. You cannot predict the outcome of a court’s decisions, and your attorney can only attempt to sway...

There is no common law marriage in Kentucky. So, you can get a divorce after a common law marriage only if you were married in a different state or commonwealth that recognizes that type of relationship. However, you still have a right to seek family court orders after breaking up with a live-in romantic partner if you need legal...

Prenuptial agreements, commonly referred to as prenups, have long since been stereotyped as documents limited to extremely wealthy couples. In reality, however, prenups can be valuable to couples from all walks of life. When a couple decides to marry, there are plenty of financial and legal issues that have yet to be decided, and a prenuptial agreement can serve...

Being a single parent is difficult. There are obvious challenges with scheduling, spending time with the kids, supporting the home, and so on. When you are co-parenting, there are other concerns as well. You may be uncomfortable leaving the kids alone with their other parents. Some parents who share custody can stay unified with their decisions and child-rearing philosophy....

Are you going through a divorce in Kentucky? The emotional toll is heavy, and financial concerns can add another layer of stress. One of the biggest questions on your mind is likely this: How much do a divorce lawyers cost? Several key factors influence the cost of hiring a divorce attorney in Kentucky. We discuss those factors below.  Understanding...

It’s no secret that divorce proceedings can be emotionally draining. However, there is also a financial toll that can leave parties wondering who will bear the burden of covering any legal fees incurred in the process.  The question of who pays for attorney fees in a divorce is a common concern among divorcing spouses. Generally speaking, each party will...

Divorce is an incredibly tumultuous experience, especially when it could force you to lose your financial stability. For men, there is an added concern of whether the family court system will treat them fairly. There are many stereotypes around gender roles in relationships, but legally, men have just as much right to alimony (also known as spousal support) in...

As a parent, the subject of child custody can be difficult to navigate. No matter how amicable parents are at the end of the relationship, disputes can easily arise. Many issues like visitation schedules and decision-making powers can put you at odds. Both parents should learn the common causes of child custody disputes. Doing so will help them recognize...

If you’re one of the millions of single parents or divorcees who are paying child support, you may feel overwhelmed and confused by the cost. Generally, child support is meant to be an affordable, reasonable expense. In the best cases, it shouldn’t cost more than it would to support them if you lived in the same home. Many who...

Some old clichés are true. For example, you “marry the whole family” after the wedding. Many stepparents will confirm this idea, as they are suddenly thrust into parenting roles after getting married. Blood is not always thicker than water. The relationship between a child and their stepparent can be just as genuine as any parent/child relationship. This fact causes...

When you have children, it can be difficult to manage your schedule. You must balance time with work, errands, and any other responsibilities. This effort doubles when the parents are not together. Now, the simple act of seeing the children involves travel time, pick-ups and drop-offs, and more complications. Luckily, there is a solution to this problem. That solution...

People who go through a divorce often have no other experience with the legal system. Suddenly entering that world can be confusing, and it’s easy for these people to get lost. Simply keeping up with the legal jargon can be frustrating. Terms and phrases that lawyers throw around every day can easily over the layperson’s head. Terms as simple...

Child support can be an uncomfortable topic for many. On one hand, you want to be involved in your child’s welfare. On the other, the realities of life may prevent you from doing so. If child support payments are becoming a burden, you need options for relief. Luckily, you can receive modifications. These modifications, however, won’t simply come at...

When we imagine divorce, we often conjure up pictures of courtrooms, judges, and opposing arguments. This scene is certainly a possibility when people want to end their marriage, and it may be necessary when the divorce is ugly. However, there are other options available. You can agreements on your own. One way to do this is through divorce mediation....

Contrary to popular belief, most family law cases are resolved outside of court. There are many advantages to doing so, including the fact that your private information is kept private, and that you have more control over the outcome of your case. If you are considering an alternative method to litigation, you are fortunate as there are many methods...

If your spouse refuses to play fair during a divorce, you might notice what are called “dirty divorce tactics.” These include actions that are manipulative, hurtful, frustrating, and embarrassing. If this is the case, you should contact a lawyer immediately to help you create a strategy to protect yourself in the event your spouse continues with this behavior.  Common...

One of the most common concerns for individuals going through a divorce is whether alimony will be part of the divorce agreement. Alimony has two basic purposes: to make sure one spouse does not walk away with all the marital assets and funds and to prevent inequalities in terms of each spouse’s future standard of living. Whether you were...

One of the first steps of filing for a divorce is considering whether you will pursue a contested or uncontested divorce. A contested divorce is a divorce where a couple cannot agree on some or all the terms put in place in the divorce agreement. These terms cover everything from spousal support and child custody matters to asset and...

Spousal maintenance, or spousal maintenance, is based on several factors. Duration and allotment will depend entirely on the circumstances of each case. Ultimately, the court will make a decision based on the most desirable outcome for those involved. Maintenance Orders After a spouse has filed for dissolution of marriage or legal separation in Kentucky, they can file for maintenance....

Divorce can be a complicated process even in the best of circumstances, and perhaps the most challenging part is deciding how to move forward as a family. On that note, telling your children about your decision to divorce is one of the most painful conversations you may ever have with them. Especially for younger children who may not understand...

The divorce process is inherently emotional and, regardless of who initiated it, it is still a difficult experience. Given the sensitive nature of this process, it is easy for spouses to make terrible mistakes, which can potentially reverberate throughout a family’s life for many years to come. The best thing you can do to avoid making a preventable misstep...

The divorce process can be potentially long and grueling. You may feel lonely, defeated, and doubt your worthiness of love. While getting back into the dating scene can certainly give you the boost you are looking for, the benefits are usually short-lived, but the damage may reverberate throughout your life for some time to come. Therefore, you should wait...

Social media is incredibly ubiquitous these days and, for many, it is a necessary part of everyday life due to its unique ability to keep people connected. However, if you are going through a divorce, you might want to consider taking a temporary hiatus until the process is finalized. The information you share online, no matter how benign it...

What Do I Do When my Ex Brings The New Partner Along? If you are recently separated or are going through a divorce, you are probably dealing with some heavy emotions. Meanwhile, you child’s sporting and school events still carry on, and you are forced to be around your ex in support of your child. This is not an...

The holidays are supposed to be the time of year where you can spend time with your family, but for divorced couples, making fair custody arrangements for the children is much easier said than done. The holiday season often brings out the worst in divorced parents, which is why it is important to do what you can to prevent...

Your divorce will impact every major aspect of your life. From financial issues to the emotional stress of having to dispute things like child custody and alimony, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the entire process. If you have valuable assets, property, and children, you will likely need help from a team of professionals to keep your...

At the Law Office of Pamela C. Bratcher, our attorney has more than 28 years of experience handling divorce cases in Bowling Green and surrounding communities. In that time, we have helped countless clients with their family law disputes, and we know that making the decision to divorce your spouse can be a difficult choice. To help determine if...

Divorce can strain the relationship between parents and their children. However, it’s important to remember that divorce and separation is much harder for the kids to go through than it is for the parents. If you want to keep your children’s worlds from turning upside down after your divorce or separation, you will need to make extra efforts to...

There are many different horror stories out there about people who have had their credit ruined in their divorce. From wives maxing out their husband’s credit cards to husbands who have squandered the life savings on a gambling debt, there are all sorts of things that can happen during your divorce that can adversely impact your credit. Some of...

Mediation can occur at any time during a custody case. Sometimes a judge might order mediation early in the divorce proceedings, while other times, mediation might be ordered right before the trial. At the mediation meeting, a trained child custody mediator will serve as an objective third-party to help you and your ex come to an agreement about child...

When you’re thinking about getting a divorce, it is important to also consider how your separation will affect custody of your children. Will your children be living with you? Will they live far away from the other parent? Who will be responsible for child support and health insurance for your kids? If you and your ex-spouse are on decent...

Parental alienation happens when one parent attempts to psychologically manipulate a child into showing unwarranted fear, disrespect, or hostility towards the other parent. For parents involved in a complicated divorce, parental alienation can become a serious problem that might affect the result of their case. Often, children who are manipulated by a parent are coached and taught behaviors that...

Most people know divorce can be pretty expensive, but not many expect precisely how much they will end up paying. Many states require equitable division when people divorce, including Kentucky. Equitable division means both spouses divide marital property as equitably, or fairly, as possible—which doesn’t necessarily mean splitting everything exactly in half. Because of this process, part of the...

Divorce can be a difficult process to navigate and mistakes that oftentimes seem minor could lead to big problems or create unnecessary obstacles on your path toward a new chapter in your life. Every couple is different and there is no “right” way for everyone to get divorced. However, there are some general do’s and don’ts anyone can benefit...

Divorce is often complicated, particularly when it comes to splitting assets and property, or determining child custody and alimony. These complications are even more pronounced in high asset divorce cases, where a considerable amount of money, assets, property, businesses, and high-priced items are at stake. Like most divorces, there is a lot of room for mistakes, which could hurt...

If you and your spouse are over the age of 50 and considering a divorce, you might think this is a rare occurrence, but divorce rates have actually increased significantly among this age group, earning it the term “gray divorce.” While divorce is difficult no matter what age group you fall into, gray divorce comes with its own unique...

While it’s not hard to get a divorce, the process itself is anything but easy. Emotions typically run high, and people often get caught in the trap of trying to “win” their divorce case. Even worse, aggressive “shark” divorce attorneys will frequently push buttons or look for new ways to create conflicts, as a longer case puts more money...