Puyallup Family Law Blog

Ending a marriage can take a toll on individuals in more ways than they may expect. Some Washington residents may think that they will not see any negative repercussions because divorce is what they want. However, the process can be more stressful than anticipated, so it is important that parties take care of themselves during this time.

When individuals start to feel stressed and overwhelmed, it is common for stress-related eating to come into play. Unfortunately, eating junk food can make people feel worse instead of better. As a result, divorcing parties may want to pay attention to what they eat during this time. Rather than reaching for the ice cream or potato chips, it may be smarter to snack on fresh fruit, vegetables and other healthy foods that can actually boost one's mood.

Many parents in Washington and across the country go through divorce. They may have various reasons for believing that this step is right for them. Of course, that does not mean that they do not worry about how their children will adjust to child custody arrangements and the major change in general.

Fortunately, parents can do their best to help their kids handle this transition. They may want to start by providing a line of open communication with their children. It is common for kids to have many questions about what is going to happen, and they may also have a number of emotions that they will struggle with. If parents let their children know that they can talk about anything relating to the divorce, it may help the kids feel more at ease.

It is not unusual for people to push unpleasant thoughts or thoughts they think they should be having out of their minds. Still, try as they might, some Washington residents may not be able to get certain ideas out of their heads. For some, the idea could revolve around potentially filing for divorce.

The idea of ending a marriage is one that many people struggle with. It is not unusual for parties to try to ignore the thought for as long as possible because they feel that they should stay married or at least give the relationship more effort. Some people may not even know if they really want a divorce when these thoughts creep into their minds, and that is a perfectly normal scenario to face. Making such a major life change is often filled with uncertainty.

Getting a divorce is a complicated endeavor. For Washington parents, the ordeal can be even more trying because decisions regarding child custody and child support will need to be made. If the details of the custody arrangements mean that support is necessary, the noncustodial parent may have many questions.

First, it is common for parents to wonder how long they will need to pay child support. Typically, payments are no longer required as soon as the child reaches the legal adult age. However, if a child has special needs, the court may require support payments to continue even after the child is no longer a minor. Additionally, if a child becomes an active-duty military member, child support is no longer necessary. Other scenarios that could bring an end to support payments include a stepparent adopting the child and terminating the paying parent's parental rights or the child becoming emancipated.