Divorce is hard for anyone to experience, but certain life circumstances can make divorce substantially more complex than it is ordinarily. Certain family situations can make divorce more difficult to navigate. Specific careers can also become complicating factors for upcoming divorces.
Medical professionals, including nurses and physicians, may worry about the potential impact their career might have on a divorce. There are three questions, in particular, that many medical professionals find themselves asking when contemplating divorce. Those who know the answers to those questions may feel better prepared for the future.
If I earn more, will I have to pay alimony?
One of the first questions people raise when contemplating divorce as a medical professional is whether they have to provide financial support for their spouses. Medical professionals command high wages, and in some cases, their spouses may not work outside the home.
Factors including the discrepancy in the wages the spouses earn can influence whether the courts may order alimony. However, alimony is typically a temporary obligation with a duration set based on the length of the marriage.
Are medical practices or student loans part of the marital estate?
Many physicians are employees, but some doctors might start their own independent medical businesses. Those who have a medical company or professional practice may worry about whether the business could be part of the marital estate for the purposes of property division. Those who still have student loans from when they got their degree may wonder whether their financial obligations are part of the marital estate.
The timing of when someone took on their student loans or started their practice can influence whether it is part of the marital estate or not. Typically, both debts and assets accrued during the marriage are part of the marital estate even when they are in the name of solely one spouse.
Will my schedule affect my custody rights?
Medical professionals work stressful jobs with long shifts. Some of them may have to work rotating weekends and holidays. Medical schedules do put pressure on time-sharing arrangements. Thankfully, judges understand that parents in specialized professions may require that extra flexibility when dividing parental rights and responsibilities.
It’s still possible for someone in the medical profession to have shared custody rights or sometimes even have the majority of parenting time if that is the best arrangement for the family. Even parents who regularly work third shift can find ways to spend time with their children.
Individuals facing particularly complex divorces may need help developing a strategy based on their long-term plans. Divorcing medical professionals often have complex divorces ahead and may need support as they plan their path forward, and that’s okay.