Though most people do enter into marriage in sickness and in health with the best of intentions, divorce lawyers find that sometimes couples do split up in sickness, for various reasons.
This can leave a sick spouse or one with a new diagnosis struggling in more ways than one.
When couples divorce due to one spouse’s illness, it is important that ailing spouses seek a divorce help lawyer who can guide them.
Between ensuring sick spouses retain their fair share of the marital wealth to help them seek out other support they will need, caring divorce lawyers can help these spouses start off on the right foot when facing divorce and a diagnosis at the same time.
What Are The Stats on This Situation?
According to research, women are 18% more likely to face divorce while dealing with a diagnosis than men are, with many of these separations occurring due to the stress that illness can put on the marriage.
Money problems and not knowing how to provide ongoing care for seriously ill spouses are other contributing factors to the high rate of nearly 25% of divorces that occur when one spouse has a serious diagnosis.
What Steps Can An Ill Spouse Take?
For anyone dealing with this situation, the first step should be for spouses to find a divorce help attorney who can aid them by making the divorce process as stress-free as possible.
Secondly, spouses should seek professional support counseling for their condition, reach out to friends and family, and if necessary seek mental health counseling as well.
Individuals should review their healthcare coverage and with the help of their divorce attorney, determine whether any additional coverage will be needed after their divorce, addressing the issue and how to pay for it with their attorney.
Although it can be difficult to think about, those getting divorced while dealing with a serious illness should also start preparing their Will and settling their estate with a lawyer, especially if there is no spouse to help with that.
Though this is usually handled by estate lawyers, divorce help lawyers can guide their clients in the right direction when the time is right to handle future planning concerning personal wealth, power of attorney, and other estate planning topics.
Seek The Help of a Dedicated Divorce Attorney
Receiving a serious diagnosis can be traumatic enough when a person is married and learning that their spouse will be leaving while they are also dealing with an illness can be even more so.
With a good support network around them and the assistance of an understanding divorce help attorney who can reduce the stress of this difficult time, spouses can get through the divorce and continue on, hopefully into better health and a better life.