Finalizing a divorce is a big event; it marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. And whether you are anxious or excited about this milestone, putting the challenges of the marriage and divorce behind you can be a top priority.
However, even though a divorce is final, there are situations that may arise in the future that can require you to revisit agreements and encounter your ex in a legal setting.
- Your ex misses his or her debt payments. During the divorce, you separated your assets and debts. However, separating a debt in a divorce does not always mean that you are separated from the debt. In other words, if your name is still attached to a debt or loan, the creditor could still come after you for repayment if your ex fails to pay.
- Your children outgrow the custody plan. Custody plans require occasional adjustments, especially as your children get older. Years after a divorce, you may need to modify a custody and visitation plan if the original one no longer reflects your child’s best interests.
- You do not receive your spousal support. If your ex stops paying spousal support for any reason, you may need to take action to enforce the order. This can involve a discussion with your ex or legal interventions.
- You or your ex moves. Even if your divorce was years ago, relocation can still affect both parties. This is particularly true if you share custody of a child or continue to own property together that you or your ex plans to sell.
Should these situations arise, it is important to try and resolve them quickly and amicably so that they do not derail other elements of your life.
It is also worth noting that if you anticipate that these or other events may occur, you can address them during your divorce. You might include in your Marital Settlement Agreement directions for how to resolve certain issues. Or you might take extra steps to protect yourself from an ex’s future actions, like possible delinquency or relocation.