You’re expecting and, at the same time struggling to dissolve your marriage— it’s undoubtedly a difficult situation. No one can feel what you’re going through at this moment.
Those legal terms and conditions, worries about the little one’s future, settling somewhere in life— all these thoughts are eating away at you simultaneously.
This article will share a few vital steps for your comfort, so you can let things go easily while stepping up to come to terms with your departing spouse.
So, sit back and read the steps and other relevant aspects of getting through your divorce during pregnancy.
Don’t Overlook These 6 Vital Legal Steps while Getting through a Divorce and Pregnancy
Marriage and divorce laws are distinct in major cities like Columbus, Atlanta, New York, Dallas, etc. These laws regulate two sides while validating their courtship or separating from each other.
You must know and follow those legal terms and conditions while getting a divorce, even when you’re pregnant. Divorce lawyers in Atlanta, Los Angeles, or New York can guide you with authentic ways to deal with your divorce during pregnancy.
Let’s walk you through the six essential steps of dissolving your marriage being while being pregnant:
- Learn If Your State Allows a Divorce during Pregnancy
As stated earlier, different states deal with divorce procedures distinctively. You must make sure whether the state you live in allows you to get a divorce being pregnant or not. Find this out even before hiring a good lawyer.
Many states don’t permit a divorce before the baby’s delivery. However, states like New York, Georgia, and Washington are okay with a divorce while the women are pregnant.
So, if you reside in cities like New York, Atlanta, or Seattle, you’re good to go with your divorce procedure while expecting.
- Migrate If You Have to for Legal Support
Explore which city or state may allow you to dissolve your marriage while pregnant. Knowing such locations and their stipulated regulations for such settlements is important.
Discuss this openly with your partner and fix the spot you want to migrate to. As we’ve said before, many states have strict laws on divorce during pregnancy, and you should choose your location wisely.
- Come to an Agreement About Co-Parenting
Even if you haven’t been able to build a better relationship with your partner, you both are responsible for the awaited little one’s future. So, agree morally and legally to co-parent your child once it arrives in the world.
Legal and parenting experts state that a child should spend more time with the mother since she will breastfeed. Besides, it emphasizes that the child spends time with the one who will keep him/her more.
However, your child’s father can always share the daily ritual, and emergency times with you, such as bathing, outing, school ceremonies, and more.
Furthermore, both parents should take care of the child’s expenses, which must be included in the co-parenting plan and agreement before the divorce.
- Settle the Insurance and Debts
If you’re on the same health or life insurance as your spouse, you should settle the premiums and timely returns between you. The court will help you negotiate the remainder of the insurance plan.
Make sure to come to a settlement with your spouse about the accrued debts. Decide how much debt repayment to share between you if you don’t want to let that hinder the divorce process.
- Prepare a Future Budget for Your Upcoming Baby
Have a mutual discussion with your partner regarding the alimony. Ensure including the expenses of your child in this budget.
As your expenses will increase once the child is born, it’s wise to consider the budget for the upcoming years.
- Keep Note of Your Spouse’s Pre-Divorce Involvement
Keeping note of your spouse’s involvement with the child during custody is a practical step. You may note your spouse’s expenses for the child, caring for both you and the upcoming baby’s health, etc.
The reason behind keeping this track is to know well how good a co-parent your departing partner may be once the divorce is granted and the child is born.
Tips to Handle Your Divorce Process while Pregnant
Apart from preparing for the legal procedures, it’s wise to have some psychological and practical attempts to handle the pressure. Being pregnant, things can keep cramming you under the concerns, frustrations, fear, guilt, etc.
You can try out the following tips to handle the divorce process while pregnant:
- Let Go of the Guilt
It’s normal to feel guilty about departing from your partner while depriving your unborn child of both parents’ love and care. You might think of yourself a selfish person sometimes.
Don’t feel that way because it’s wise to bring up your kid in a house with no unhappy and grudging parents under the same roof. Think of the positive sides your child can get from you and your would-be partner after divorce.
- Get a Supporting Ground
Don’t shy away from asking for emotional support from your parents, relatives, and friends. It will be easier for you to go through the tough time with their moral support.
Keeping to yourself can build up depression which is not a good vibe for the one inside you. You have to turn over this bad chapter of your life with emotional, psychological, and physical strengths.
- Get Couple Therapy
Although you see each other off for life, it never hurts to get professional help to share things. Let the past stay behind while agreeing to the terms of common interests.
A professional therapist can help you positively vent the grief and complaints. It’ll help you develop a better co-parenting plan for your unborn child.
- Try Self-Therapy
Getting along with your interests while pregnant is hard, and adding a divorce prospect to that condition makes it even worse. However, women who break up with their partners follow various self-therapies to deal with loneliness.
Try jotting down your thoughts onto a journal (or a PC), exploring new hobbies and interests, and sparing some time in self-care. Staying involved in such activities can help you eliminate the sense of guilt, failure, and uncertainty.
Bottom Line
Life is already so hard for a pregnant woman, and getting a divorce adds more pain. No matter how you and your life partner are getting away from each other, you must put yourself together in time.
You must understand how effective a proper divorce procedure is for your awaited child’s health, safety, and maintenance. Hence, following the necessary legal steps is optimum for you.
We hope for your best interest while getting through a divorce during your pregnancy, and may this comprehensive guide give you friendly support.