We are often shocked to hear that someone we love and admire is getting a divorce. You thought this couple was the perfect pair—what went wrong? What issues could have destroyed their marriage?

There is no perfect marriage. Every couple faces problems. Many get through them, but others cannot come together as a couple and as a result, the marriage ends in divorce.

Indeed, it is all about how a couple acts toward each other. Kindness and empathy can help couples weather the toughest marital storms. When couples get defensive and hostile and want to constantly fight, problems do not resolve. In fact, they only get worse.

During a divorce, you no doubt have numerous issues on your mind. Child custody, child support, maintenance, asset division, to name a few. One thing many people neglect, though, is finances. How will you support yourself after a divorce?

Child support and maintenance won’t pay all your expenses. If you currently aren’t working, now’s the time to get a job. You need to pay bills, pay off debts and save up for college and other huge expenses.

It’s not just about paying for a divorce; you’ll also need to fund your new life. Your new life will consist of just you (and kids, if you have them). Your spouse will no longer be contributing to your household budget, so it’s up to you to get on a solid financial foot. Not sure where to start? Here are some tips to help.

Most parents want what is best for their children. In a divorce, they may choose to share custody of the children so both parents are a part of the children’s’ lives. But what if the other parent neglects the child due to a substance abuse issue?

Courts have the best interests of the children in mind when making custody decisions. Therefore, allegations of drug or alcohol abuse by either parent will be taken seriously. The court may order drug or alcohol testing or even temporarily halt visitation rights until the addicted parent enters and completes a recovery program.

Before the Divorce is Finalized

While the divorce is still in process, one parent can maybe claim that the other parent has a substance abuse issue. In some cases, these allegations are false. One or both parents may be asked to submit to drug and alcohol tests.

When a couple has older children and decides that the marriage is broken, they may wait until the children have graduated from high school before filing for divorce. But even when divorce happens while the children are away at college, children are still emotionally affected by their parents’ split.

When a couple has children, there really is noright time to divorce. Going away to college can be scary enough, but having to deal with your family falling apart as well can make school even tougher. Even if the parents split up when the college student is young, the effects can carry on more than a decade later.

A study conducted by Texas A&M discovered that divorce is an environmental factor that can create various emotions. Some children are angry or devastated, while others may be happy that they no longer have to hear their parent’s fight. Many people try to suppress their emotions and hope they will eventually go away, but the preferred route is to discuss your feelings with someone.