Divorce and the “Stay at Home Parent” What to Prepare For

 Whether you’ve made the decision to divorce, or the decision was made for you, as a traditional “stay at home parent”, you may be concerned about several issues throughout the divorce process.  The first step is to consult with an attorney to ensure your rights in regard to custody, visitation, support, and access to property are protected.
The first issue to prepare for is determining a custody and visitation schedule with the other parent for your minor children.  As the “stay at home parent”, you are most likely the one handling day-to-day tasks and requirements for the children, including helping with homework, taking them to appointments and caring for them when they are sick among other activities.  It can be emotionally difficult to give up some of these customary duties, even part of the time.  However, you must remember the children need both parents in their lives.  Further, you will need to work with the other parent to determine how to raise the children going forward and create a schedule of whom the children will be with, days and times, based on their best interests, not yours.
Another issue is determining the amount of child and spousal support.  The state provides guidelines for child support based on your respective incomes and the amount of time the children spend with each parent.  The court also has guidelines for temporary spousal support, with the goal of maintaining a similar standard of living as during the marriage. However, it’s likely the working parent will ask the court to reduce the support you receive by 1) Asking for more time with the children and/or 2) Asking for you to be imputed income based on your ability to earn, even if you aren’t working!  Additionally, a “stay at home parent”, may be ordered to make efforts to become self-supporting.  If you’ve been married, 10 years or more and think this is an impossible task, but make efforts to look for full-time employment that is less than what it would cost for child care, then you’re meeting your burden.
Divorce for a “stay at home parent” presents unique considerations and the skilled attorneys at The Reape-Rickett Law Firm have the experience and ability to assist you.
For more information on family law matters contact The Reape-Rickett Law Firm at 661-288-1000.