When you’ve got the divorce behind you and you’re ready to embark on your life again as a single person, you may think it will be rather easy. The judge signed off on the divorce decree and your attorney got everything you asked for — for the most part. Everything should go smoothly, right?
It’s not that simple. While it might have seemed easier than you thought it would be to get your ex to agree to the property division, debt division, retirement account division and much more, enforcing all of those divisions can be difficult. What if you’re expecting to receive child support and alimony, for the house to be sold and for the retirement funds to be split and none of that is happening?
The good news is that when it comes to child support, that is enforced by the state to ensure the health and welfare of the children. However, when it comes to the rest of it, you will likely need to retain an attorney and head back to court to get your divorce order enforced. You could wait around to see if your ex suddenly decides to abide by the agreement. That may mean it will be some time before you see the divorce decree fulfilled, though.
While you’re through the really hard part with the divorce behind, you might not be through a difficult part. You may still have a fight on your hands to get what you were awarded. Your divorce attorney can provide you with more information about the enforcement of your divorce agreement and decree.
Source: Time, “Why Post-Divorce Finances Are Trickier Than You Think,” Nov. 18, 2015
