What's a "standard" dissolution?

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2006
What's a "standard" dissolution?
6
Sat, 04-22-2006 - 10:49pm

Even though my dissolution papers are signed and supposedly filed, I was just wondering what a standard dissolution might be. Or what everyone has in theirs, if they don't mind sharing. Things such as support, visitation, continuing to pay on the current mortage, life insurance, car insurance, health, college, etc.

Thanks! Jo

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-08-2004

OK, I just broke out my agreement. However, I know there are agreements that have a lot more in them than mine does. In a nutshell, here's what it covers:


1. Child support (it specifies the amount and when it is payable)


2. Health insurance (who will cover whom)


3. Unreimbursed medical expenses, splitting the cost of child care, camp, extracurriculars, etc.


4. Order for post majority support (paying for college for children)


5. Child custody and visitation (a schedule is spelled out, including rotating holidays)


6. Personal property and real estate


7. Debts


I hope that helps! If you need me to get more specific, let me know.


Also, in your other post, you asked how long it could take. That varies SO much. My divorce took almost nine months. Much of that was because my ex didn't pay his lawyer, then had to get a new one. So that really held things up. Hopefully, yours will be much shorter and more smooth.




What lies behind us and lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2006

Thanks for replying. I guess I was just kind of wondering if I did "ok" with my agreement. It's all written, signed, and was filed at the courthouse Friday. So, hopefully it was ok since I can't change it now. Anyway, I will receive standard child support for three children plus an extra $300 a month to help pay on our "dream house" until it is sold. He has to pay half of all extra medical/dental (braces too!) expenses that my insurance doesn't cover. He pays half on agreed vehicles for our children, including their auto insurance. College will be "discussed", but he doesn't have to pay. We both have to maintain at least $200,000 life insurance with the children as beneficiaries. Standard visitation, I guess. Every other weekend and Wednesday evenings for him, split holidays, and 4 weeks in the summer. (But you can't MAKE him take his children, right?!) I basically split up our material things. He's taking some vehicles (smart move on his part...no movers needed there), and I took all the household furniture, etc. He has to pay me some money for the hot tub (which is too deep for me anyway..but that's another story).

If anyone has input as to whether mine sounds "ok", I'd appreciate it. Gee...is it ever "ok" though? *sigh*

I just hope this house sells soon. I need to get out from under the mortgage and hopefully move in the summer before I start teaching again in August. Argh!

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-08-2004

Until your divorce is final, your agreement is not written in stone.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2006
Ok, thanks. I did ask my attorney about college and he said that in a dissolution, you can't "make" him pay for college, but he did add that we would work together for our children's education, hoping that would spur him into action. My accountant said that maybe it would be worth it if our daughter is on his tax return when we apply for financial aid for college since STBX makes less money than I do. THen she could just apply under his name. I don't know..... I just hope it keeps going as relatively smoothly as it is. Who knows though. I think hubby has the capacity to get "mean" and try tactics that will upset me.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003

You can't make him pay for college.... but if you put it in the parenting agreement and he agrees to it... then it's a legal binding agreement and you can use that to "make" him pay up later.


Of course, it would be wise to specify a $$$$ figure.


Karen ~ wildlucky4me ~

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2006
I think that's a great idea. I'll ask my attorney about it Monday. But I really think he would refuse to sign (and actually did refuse to adding college funding). Our oldest daughter wants an expensive ivy league school and that will cost a fortune. Hopefully, she'll get some good scholarships and aid since she's an excellent, involved student. Our son will probably not care about college, he'll want to be outside working. Our youngest daughter will try to be a politician and who knows what college will cost when she goes in 10 years. STBX keeps accusing me of only worrying about the money. Well...duh! Of course I'm concerned about raising my children and giving them the best we can. There's no sense "worrying" about our marriage, as it's over and he didn't want to work on it anyway. Tired of beating that dead horse. ;)