How Remarriage Can Impact Prior Divorce Settlements and Other Financial Matters 

When you were young, you may have had dreams of finding your one true love. Getting married and having it end in divorce can be devastating, but the good news is that you will recover. In fact, many people do find love again and often end up getting remarried. While this can be a wonderful, life-affirming thing, it is important to be aware of how it could impact your prior divorce settlement and other financial matters in your life.

Remarriage and Your Existing Divorce Settlement

Under the Illinois Statutes, important matters pertaining to money, property, and children must be addressed in any divorce case. Decisions made regarding these matters can end up being impacted in the event you decide to remarry. Those most likely to be affected include: 

• Marital property division: If your divorce agreement included stipulations that you could retain possession of the family home or other property without any actual transfer of title, it could become an issue if you remarry. 
• Alimony, or spousal support: If you made significantly less than your former husband or sacrificed your own career for the sake of the marriage, you may have been awarded alimony, This will generally terminate once you get remarried. It could also impact any retirement benefits or health insurance you may have been entitled to, as well. 
• Child custody and support: Getting remarried could prompt your spouse to want to go back to court and take a second look at custody arrangements. It could also significantly change your financial status, prompting a change in any child support awards in place. 

While none of these should stop you from getting remarried when you meet the right person, they are issues that should be discussed with an experienced divorce and family law attorney. 

Protecting Yourself and Your Children in Remarriage

In addition to being aware of potential impacts on your prior divorce settlement, you need to consider how remarriage could affect property rights pertaining to your children. A new spouse could impact your children’s inheritance rights in the event anything happens to you if the proper legal documents are not in place.

In addition, Psychology Today warns that second and third marriages are just as likely to fail due to unresolved problems and outside issues like any other. To protect yourself and children you have from a prior relationship, you may want to consider putting a premarital agreement in place.  

Get Trusted Guidance From Our Chicago Family Law Attorneys

At the Women’s Divorce & Family Law Group, we provide the trusted legal guidance you need to protect yourself in various situations that arise after a divorce. To discuss your options, contact our office and request a consultation today.