Ending a marriage is often a traumatic experience even if you think that doing so is in your best interest. Tennessee law allows you to obtain a divorce for any reason and without the need to obtain your spouse’s permission.
The potential benefits of divorce
A divorce may allow you to leave a toxic relationship without giving up valuable assets such as a house, car or retirement account. Furthermore, you may be entitled to alimony payments from your spouse on a temporary or permanent basis. If you share kids with your spouse, a divorce may allow them to grow up in a more positive environment. It’s not uncommon for those who are miserable as romantic partners to work well together as parents.
A divorce doesn’t guarantee anything
While it’s possible that a divorce settlement will provide you with valuable assets, you may not obtain an even split of marital property. There is also a chance that your partner won’t make alimony, child support or other payments on time or in full. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that your child’s other parent will feel any differently toward you or your child after the divorce is finalized. Working with a therapist may help you overcome the trauma caused by an abusive spouse or help you process your own feelings.
As a general rule, you may be able to negotiate the terms of a divorce prior to filing any paperwork. However, a judge would likely need to approve any language regarding child custody, visitation or support plans. Furthermore, a judge may not be able to enforce provisions of a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement that don’t have anything to do with property division or other financial matters.