Divorces are Like Snowflakes and Fingerprints
No two are exactly alike.
A recent article on PsychologyToday.com highlights an issue that I see nearly every day in my divorce cases. "My friend receives $10,000 per month in alimony, can you get that for me?" OR, "My cousin got taken to the cleaners in his divorce case, how do we avoid that?"
I always caution my clients that no two divorces are alike. What your friend or family member may have agreed upon may not be possible in your case. In family law cases there are many things to determine, such as; parental responsibility, timesharing (or custody), child support, equitable distribution of assets and liabilities, alimony and attorney's fees. Each one of these issues is considered when preparing an agreement, or taking a family law case to trial.
Friends and family members can be excellent resources when going through a divorce case. Sharing your experiences with someone who has been through a situation similar to your can be very comforting. I would forewarn that your case is likely different than your friend or family member's was, and the facts of your case may dictate a different outcome. For example, if your spouse only makes $4,000 a month in net income, and you were only married for 5 years, it is highly unlikely that a divorce court will award you $10,000 per month in alimony.