The dialogue is the same throughout thousands of Maryland households. While the married couple is full of newly wedded bliss, one partner tells the other, “You’ll never have to work. I’ll take care of us.” What happens when the fairy tale ends, though, and the couple’s thoughts turn to divorce, alimony, and child support? The fact that one spouse was effectively shut out of the workplace for so many years will have an effect on the couple’s future.
Most couples do not see the divorce coming immediately. Instead, they spend time considering the future, which might consist of remodels to the home, college payments for the kids, and that vacation to the Bahamas next year. When one spouse stays at home, however, that talk of the future can be dangerously enticing. If the couple divorces, the coming years will certainly hold something very different.
In other words, no one plans for a divorce. Although it might sound macabre, it is always prudent to have a financial and social plan if your marriage does dissolve. How would you make your money? Would your spouse be able to shut you out of the financial picture for a time before the divorce was finalized? What if you have been kept from the workplace for so long that your skills are no longer relevant and you require spousal support? It is important to remember that even holding small, temporary jobs might not be enough to catch a future employer’s eye. The fact remains that some spouses do not have to make the choice between a high-powered career and being a stay-at-home parent. In fact, some have always aspired to just that lifestyle. It helps to be prepared, just in case.
Even if you do not have the discussion with your spouse, have it with yourself. You need to be certain that you have a Plan B if your relationship dissolves, or even if your spouse dies.
Source: www.huffingtonpost.com, “Mama, don’t let your babies grow up to be housewives” Jennifer Ball, Sep. 08, 2013
