Remarrying Your Ex-Spouse: What to Consider Beforehand

 Posted on March 15, 2019 in Family Law

Remarrying an ex-spouse is fairly uncommon but it does happen. This typically happens with couples who married young and have been divorced for a significant period of time. People grow older and wiser, realize their mistakes, and change their futures based on the experiences they have acquired since the end of that relationship. 

According to research conducted by Nancy Kalish, a professor emeritus at California State University, 6 percent of couples claim to have married, divorced, and remarried the same person. Of these individuals, 72 percent stay together after remarrying. 

Getting Remarried After Divorce

People decide to get remarried for a variety of reasons. Some fall in love while others are trying to avoid loneliness. Everyone has their own reason for getting remarried, but children should not be one of them. Many divorced couples who have children together feel an obligation toward their child’s other biological parent. The false ideation of the “perfect family” continues to stick in their head. This guilt can cause former couples to reunite for the sake of their children. This is not a good reason for remarriage. Children can sense a forced relationship between their parents and seeing them happy is more beneficial than seeing them together.

Reflecting on the Past

It is a good idea for former spouses to enroll in couples counseling before saying “I do” for a second time. Advice from a third party can help shed light on the issues that existed in the past as well as those that may continue today. Even though time has passed, old wounds may not have fully healed, and rushing a marriage without examining the root causes of previous problems can exacerbate them in the future. 

Consider a Prenuptial Agreement 

While signing a prenuptial agreement can be a sore topic, more couples are deciding prenups are in their best interests. Prenups are legal documents that can outline expectations for responsibilities in the marriage and what will happen in the event of a divorce. It can seem uncomfortable to sign a document addressing a possible divorce, but it is better to be prepared. Signing a prenup can also help calm fears about divorce. 

Contact a DuPage County Family Law Attorney for Help

A. Traub & Associates handles a variety of family law matters for marrying and divorcing couples. Prenuptial agreements are one of the most common requests for those remarrying a former spouse. If you are considering remarriage and the creation of a prenup, contact our firm Lombard, IL family lawyer at 630-426-0196.

Sources:

https://www.chicagotribune.com/living/ct-xpm-2012-10-23-sc-fam-1023-divorce-reunite-20121023-story.html

https://www.verywellmind.com/is-a-second-time-around-realistic-2300932