3 myths about divorce

Divorce rates may be on the decline, but it is still very common in the United States. Most people know others who have been divorced, and many have been divorced themselves. Even so, there are many myths about divorce that continue to make the rounds.

These myths can be dangerous for those who are going through the divorce process because they can lead to oversights and mistakes. The three listed below can help you see how this may happen, although this is not a comprehensive list of all divorce myths to look out for.

Your spouse has to agree

Thanks to default divorce options and no-fault divorce laws, your spouse does not have to agree to get divorced. There doesn’t have to be a specific reason, and no one has to give you permission to get divorced. Even a spouse who won’t cooperate doesn’t change this, as you can get a default divorce to end the marriage anyway. It is certainly better when both people can cooperate, but it is not strictly necessary.

Custody always goes to mothers

The actual trend in divorce cases over recent years has been toward shared custody between both mothers and fathers. It is true that there used to be a bias toward mothers, largely because they were considered caretakers and men were considered breadwinners. But these lines have blurred in society over the decades, and courts have found that it’s in the child’s best interests to see both parents.

It’s better to stay together for the kids

A similar myth is that parents are better off staying married, rather than co-parenting their children. But this is not always the case. It is good for children to have a relationship with both parents. When those parents are in a high-conflict, marriage, however, this causes a lot of stress. Co-parenting after divorce may actually be better for the children.

Take the time to carefully consider  all of your options as you move toward a divorce this year.