Spouse Sentence Examples

And if everyone who hit their spouse landed in jail, we might be rather shocked at the percentage.

She is dressed in bridal white with wreath and veil, and receives a wedding-ring, as spouse of the Church.

You can also transfer any unused allowance to your spouse.

Divorce can be enacted when the spouse has committed a very heinous offense or crime.

If there are no children the spouse receives the personal chattels, the first £ 200,000 and half the rest of the Estate outright.

If you marry after leaving the LGPS your spouse's long-term pension will normally be less than the amount shown on your statement.

However, your surviving spouse will not necessarily get the whole of your estate.

The spouse who needs financial support will also want to consider the tax implications of taking a lump sum payment instead of receiving support on a monthly basis.

Spousal support is money paid from one spouse to another to pay for living expenses.

No such limit applies where the gift is being made to a UK domiciled spouse by their non-UK domiciled spouse by their non-UK domiciled spouse.

If the trust is in favor of the surviving spouse, the spouse exemption will still apply.

She pretends to be the chaste spouse of Christ; and in the seventeenth chapter she is called the harlot.

The male is MUCH smaller than its spouse and still has immature plumage.

So, again we return to joint planning and the need for the non-earning spouse to agree to the long-term financial plans.

If you are separated but not legally divorced, intestacy gives your estranged spouse a full entitlement.

If the funds had passed to the estate of the divorced spouse, the ultimate inheritance tax liability could have been 40 per cent.

A widowed person may be able to claim on the record of a spouse or deceased spouse.

It is targeted particularly for those with fluctuating, low or no taxable earnings such as a non-working spouse.

For a money purchase scheme the former spouse has no control over where the money is invested.

However, after fulfilling certain residential qualifications in the UK, the non-British spouse may apply for British citizenship.

The mere fact that the non-bankrupt spouse may have paid exclusively for the improvements will no longer be enough.

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This latter category (unrelated persons) would include not only unadopted stepchildren, but also the so-called common-law spouse.

Where there is no issue and the deceased dies intestate the surviving spouse is entitled to the whole estate, both real and personal, if it does not exceed $2000, and if it exceeds that sum the survivor is entitled to $2000 and one-half of the remainder; if there are no kindred, the whole of the estate goes to the surviving spouse.

Divorce is granted to either spouse for either adultery or malicious desertion, the distinctions established by the English law between husband and wife in respect of divorce being disregarded.

The rights of dower and courtesy have been abolished, and husband and wife have instead equal rights to inherit property from the other; but the portion of the property of a deceased spouse that descends to the survivor varies from one-fourth to all according to whose and how many are the children concerned.

You are leaving town for a week and a day and will completely avoid your spouse's meltdown.

If the life tenant is the settlor 's spouse, then the PET will be an exempt transfer under IHTA 1984 s 18.

The decision to take the lump sum would not affect the payment of any spouse 's pension or child 's pension.

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The surviving spouse is a potential beneficiary as are the children and so on.

The success of the scheme depends on getting a deduction for the debt in the estate of the transferee spouse.

His sister talks him into trying to track down her abusive spouse, who has vanished without a trace.

Don't whine to your spouse about your whining child.

He is regarded by many to be a very uxorious spouse.

While you and your spouse may be ecstatic over the news that you are pregnant, your older child may not react in quite the same manner.

Let her brainstorm with you and your spouse over possible names for the new baby.

If you or your spouse do not have health insurance, you should still be able to procure some for your baby.

Measuring yourself at home should actually be done with the help of a friend or spouse because your arms should be straight at your sides during the measuring process.

The first step in your assessment involves sitting down with your spouse and discussing your family's philosophy.

Identifying ahead of time what is important to your spouse and yourself regarding a childcare provider will solve many potential conflicts down the road.

Do you sometimes look at your children and think back to the time when it was just you and your spouse?

Perfectly Spaced Births-You and your spouse already have everything planned out.

Stay At Home Parents-You and your spouse have decided there's no way you'll begin a family until one of you can stay at home.

Only you and your spouse know how realistic this goal is, and you'll need to have some concrete figures in front of you before you can stick to this plan.

If it's possible, work opposite shifts from your spouse so that you both are home with the children.

Names that sound gorgeous to you and your spouse may sound like a train wreck to everyone else who hears them.

Are you afraid to leave your child with anyone other than yourself-even your spouse?

Both ladies and men love diamonds, but nothing pleases a spouse more than a gift of diamonds.

Whether you are looking for an item for a friend, teacher or your spouse, you are sure to find it online.

Bringing a cat home and bonding with it, only to have to give it up because of an irate spouse can be traumatic for both you and the cat.

Consolidate accounts with a spouse to ensure you earn the maximum amount of rewards and progress to higher earning tiers more quickly.

Is there a fee associated with additional cards for your spouse or child?

You are allowed to include your spouse's income in your application, but First Premier needs to be able to verify that your spouse resides at the same address as you.

Obtain more than one debit card linked to a Charter One account to give others (such as a spouse) the ability to use the card.

If you have a spouse, be sure to discuss every detail with him or her so you're both on the same page.

Even if you think your spouse and yourself have come to an amicable agreement, it is still in your best interest to hire a lawyer to protect your rights.

Has he/she met your spouse's attorney in court/mediation before?

Of course, your spouse and his/her lawyer will also determine how much the divorce will cost you.

However, it's impossible to be permanently rid of your spouse when there are minor children in the picture.

Don't complain about your former spouse when your child is around.

Don't use the visitation as an opportunity to dig up dirt on your former spouse.

Don't ask your child to relay messages between you and your former spouse.

It is not the same as alimony, which is a payment that is intended to compensate someone who was economically dependant upon his/her spouse for the majority of the marriage.

My spouse has not lied to me about anything important.

This type of arrangement isn't in the best interests of a spouse who is being physically or emotionally abused.

If you and your spouse agree on most issues surrounding your divorce, but need assistance coming to a compromise on one key issue, mediation might be the best solution.

As impartial third parties, they can help you and your spouse evaluate each person's point of view and reach an acceptable conclusion.

Have you ever faced my spouse's attorney in court before?

Although most experts don't recommend attempting to divorce without the aid of an attorney, a do it yourself divorce may be an option if you and your spouse have no children, little property, and minimal debt.

Even if you and your spouse agree to an uncontested divorce, you must have one of the grounds.

First, the spouse requesting the divorce must file and serve upon the other spouse a Verified Complaint.

If one spouse stays home to care for the children while the other spouse earns the household income and purchases all property for the household, all of that property will be divided by the court.

Spousal Maintenance is payment for the support of the other spouse.

Do you and your spouse communicate well even when you disagree?

Is your spouse rational and thoughtful, or does he/she have mood swings and act before thinking?

Do you and your spouse have minor children?

Do you and your spouse own any property, a car, a house, a savings account, retirement benefits, or investments?

Do you or your spouse have any medical needs that require appropriate health insurance?

Do you trust your spouse to disclose all property and debts?

In the end, you could have to pay any debts incurred by your spouse even if you are not aware of them.

Often it is easy to return to our previous spouse out of comfort and convenience.

Your attorney may need these documents to help negotiate a settlement with your spouse, or present to the court during hearings or a trial.

This technique requires that one spouse speak at a time while the other spouse actively listens.

Divorce Mediation often involves having you and your spouse would sit down with a neutral person known as a mediator.

With the mediator's guidance, you and your spouse can begin to discuss the issues the family needs resolved.

Sometimes, the court will require that you and your spouse attend a divorce counseling and mediation session.

Regardless of whether the court orders you to attend mediation or you and your spouse decide privately to speak with a mediator, the mediation session is confidential.

Before a judge is able to issue a Divorce Decree dissolving your marriage, you and your spouse have to agree on many things.

Keep in mind that you have to compromise with your spouse, so be realistic when making your list.

If you file the Petition, you are the Petitioner and your spouse is the Respondent.

If you have children or if alimony is an issue, either your attorney or your spouse's attorney will probably file an Order to Show Cause requesting that the court make decisions regarding custody and child support.

If you and your spouse are unable to agree on custody issues, you will have to go to Conciliation Court for counseling.

If you and your spouse do not need a California divorce lawyer and are able to end your marriage on good terms, you may be able to file an uncontested divorce.

Some people get so wrapped up in defending their own position on a certain issue that they don't consider their spouse's point of view.

Some people are of the opinion that if their spouse truly cared for them, he or she would know exactly what they want or need.

The fact that one partner has engaged in sexual activities with someone who is not his or her spouse is a serious issue.

Whether this is accurate or not, the spouse who was betrayed will no doubt be deeply hurt and upset.

Many people find the concept of money a difficult one to discuss, even with their spouse.

If one spouse makes most of the financial decisions, then the other partner may feel resentful.

Lack of communication can also be a problem here, especially if one spouse feels that he or she is being expected to handle the bulk of the child-care responsibilities.

Over time, one spouse may well feel deep resentment toward the other and this could be considered a cause of divorce.

He or she can help with a divorce by analyzing financial records provided by the parties to determine the value of a business and what each spouse's fair share is according to the law.

A forensic accountant may be called in to determine whether one spouse is attempting to hide assets from the other.

In a state where equitable distribution of property is used to divide marital assets, the Court decides what percentage each spouse receives.

In determining what is fair and reasonable in the situation before it, the Court may choose to award most or all the marital assets to one spouse or the other.

If you can demonstrate to the Court that your spouse sold or disposed of an asset to avoid having it included in marital property, you may be awarded a cash payment or be given another asset to compensate.

You don't want your spouse deliberately running up debt with the knowledge that you are responsible for half of the amount.

If your spouse has been responsible for making those payments, you may want to ask the creditor to advise you if payments are not being made on time.

Have your name taken off any joint accounts held with your spouse; you do not want to be held liable if he or she is overdrawn.

If the couple divorces, however, then the alien spouse's status must be determined.

The act of separating from one's spouse does not legally end a couple's marriage.

An alien can be granted the status of a permanent resident through the sponsorship of his/her spouse.

If a divorce is granted before the immigrant spouse is granted permanent resident status, then he or she cannot be granted a permanent residency through the marital relationship.

In the case of a divorce granted after the alien spouse has been granted a green card, his/her status doesn't change.

The alien and his/her spouse are required to apply to have the conditional status on the green card lifted three months before the couple's second wedding anniversary.

If the couple's marriage ends in divorce within two years, the alien's spouse's conditional permanent resident status can be terminated.

It is possible for the alien spouse to obtain a waiver, however.

The waiver can be granted if it can be shown that the alien spouse married in good faith.

If you suspect your spouse has not been open about his or her assets, then you will need help to uncover what assets your spouse may be hiding.

Legal measures may need to be taken to ensure that the spouse and/or children are kept safe.

While it may be tempting to go after one's former spouse through a lawyer, this course of action will end up costing you, too.

In 1980, the Florida Supreme Court found that special equity was "a vested interest which a spouse acquires because of contribution of funds, property, or services made over and above the performance of normal marital duties."

A presumption is made that one spouse intended to gift the other with the funds or property in question.

Even in a situation where the property was gifted to the other spouse, the Court may make a ruling for something other than a straight 50/50 split.

For a flat fee, the company will prepare the necessary divorce papers for yourself and your spouse.

The mediator will act as a neutral buffer between the spouse and help them to communicate with each other.

Keep in mind that if you and your spouse are not able to resolve all of the outstanding issues between yourselves, you will have to go to court.

An example of this might be when one spouse has found true religion while the other has no desire to find it.

Here, one spouse has either injured or neglected the other in some grievous way or there is some severe behavioral issue.

These are some of the issues that you and your spouse will have to deal with as you and your attorney navigate your way through Alaska's divorce system.

One would assume that a lawyer who is also a practicing Christian will be fair in his or her dealings with you, your spouse and his or her attorney, and Court officials.

If you and your former spouse are able to adopt a system of co-parenting, you need to make sure that your children understand this is not a sign that the two of you will be getting back together.

In a situation where you and your former spouse were having a lot of conflict in the past, this new way of communicating may be confusing for the children.

You may not be getting along with your spouse but don't let it get in the way of good parenting in high conflict divorce.

The following are some suggestions about how you and your spouse can continue to ensure you are providing good parenting in high conflict divorce.

When you and your spouse have decided to separate, it is important to sit down with your children and discuss your plans with them.

You want to make sure they don't feel that the arguments you have with your spouse are their fault.

Your kids love you and your spouse and they don't want to hear you talking badly about one another.

A judge will look at the financial situation and lifestyle of both you and your spouse to calculate alimony payments.

If you have children with your spouse, child support payments have a higher priority.

The purpose of spousal support is to help the spouse with lower income to continue living a lifestyle comparable to the one he or she had before the divorce.

Your assets as a couple influence how much money a spouse receives.

If the spouse requesting payment has the skills and training to find employment with a decent wage, that person may only receive a small amount or none at all.

If the spouse is disabled or elderly it can affect how much someone will receive.

You must be able to trust your spouse and be able to come to a decision on what amount would be fair for the both of you.

It is mainly for the spouse who doesn't make as much income to be able to become self-sufficient after a divorce.

The first thing you need to know to understand how to file for legal separation is that this agreement between you and your spouse is legally binding.

This means that once the court approves this agreement, you or your spouse are unable to go back on it without going back to court.

The first step in filing for legal separation is to gather information for the reason you want a separation from your spouse.

For example, if your spouse has committed adultery, you want to include any evidence of his unfaithfulness.

Once you complete the agreement, your spouse must receive it for review.

If your spouse agrees with the legal separation document, he or she must sign it.

If you and your spouse have difficulty agreeing, you may have to hire a mediator or let the courts decide on who gets what.

You and your spouse should receive copies of the official document.

A legal separation does not mean you are no longer married, it means simply that you and your spouse are no longer living together and need to abide by the provisions of your legal separation agreement.

You may decide to meet with a marriage counselor or reconcile while separated, at which time you can contact the court system to dissolve the legal separation between you and your spouse.

When the judge needs to calculate the rate of alimony payments, he or she considers the length of the marriage, as well as how likely it is that the spouse receiving the payments will be able to become self-supporting.

Alimony is financial support paid by one spouse to the other as part of a separation agreement or divorce judgment.

This type of alimony is usually reserved for times when the couple were married for a long time and one spouse was out of the workforce to raise children and look after the home.

Temporary alimony will be ordered as a way to compensate the recipient for contributing to the other spouse's business or so that he or she could get established in a career.

Income and expenses for both spouses are examined to determine whether there is a financial need for alimony and if the other spouse has the means to pay.

The spouse considering a request for alimony will need to factor in their present and future financial needs in order to make a decision about whether to proceed.

Don't hide or damage property to keep it away from your spouse.

During the divorce proceedings, you need to take great care to make sure that you are not tampering with property that belongs to both of you or your spouse alone in any way.

Hiding the children from your spouse or refusing to allow him to see them is not the way to behave in this situation.

Alimony, or maintenance, is financial support paid by one spouse (or former spouse) to the other.

Another situation where alimony may be ordered is where one spouse needs time to become self supporting.

If the paying spouse loses his or her job or the recipient's income level increases significantly, this may be grounds to change the order for alimony.

Alimony is not paid from the paying spouse's estate if he or she dies.

It's a very good idea to include a provision that a life insurance policy be put in place for the paying spouse for the total amount of alimony that he or she could be expected to pay.

The Court may award alimony to one spouse to preserve the standard of living that he or she had while married.

Divorcing your spouse is expensive and a divorce kit could help you get the process done without spending a bundle.

You shouldn't use divorce kits if you and your spouse are unable to come to an agreement on child custody, support and division of assets.

Divorce kits are for individuals who do not need mediation and believe that they are able to get their fair share just by talking with their spouse.

Free divorce kits have their place, but if you and your spouse are not able to agree on the terms of your divorce yourselves, this isn't the right choice.

In a situation where you and your spouse agree that you have both made a mistake and all you want to do is cut your losses and get on with your life, then this may be the right choice.

Do you feel that your agreement with your spouse is fair?

Once you sign the divorce papers and file them, you are asking a judge to approve the agreement that you have worked out with your spouse.

Each spouse could take possession of one asset, and the person who keeps the house would pay $15,000 to the other spouse, representing half of the difference in value between the two assets.

Community property is property and assets you and your spouse accumulated while you were married.

If you are in a community property law state, property and assets are divided between you and your spouse.

According to the law, each spouse contributed equally to the marriage regardless of who had the higher salary.

Each spouse's financial need or who was at fault for the divorce are not considered for the divorce settlement.

Equitable distribution is different from community property law in that the financial situation of each spouse determines what percent of the couple's property each one receives.

This property is considered nonmarital property and is retained by the spouse who owned it prior to the marriage.

For example, if a spouse commingled a cash inheritance they received prior to the marriage with marital cash assets.

In these cases, particularly when a spouse relied upon the property as part of the marital estate, the court may determine that the property should be divided equally.

This means that either spouse can file for divorce and does not need to give a reason for the divorce.

If you want to get a divorce in Mississippi, you should gather as much information about the property you and your spouse have accumulated as possible.

If you and your spouse have a similar income or if the person requesting the alimony makes more than the other, it is not likely the Court will award alimony.

Therefore, the requesting spouse must have less earning capacity than his/her spouse for consideration for spousal support.

The amount of property one spouse has over the other will factor into whether he/she will have to pay spousal support.

The Court is much more likely to award alimony to a spouse that has custody of the children from the marriage.

If one spouse pays for the other's education during the marriage, it's not likely the paying spouse will have to pay alimony.

Therefore, if one spouse is not able to keep up that standard of living, the other spouse may have to pay spousal support.

If one spouse receives a tax benefit from property acquired during the marriage, this could factor into spousal support.

Again, the Court strives to make sure each spouse leaves the marriage in a similar financial situation.

Many states do not consider fault when deciding on spousal support; however, some do, especially if it negatively affects the financial outcome of the other spouse.

When a spouse cheats, the other spouse often feels betrayed, depressed and undervalued.

However, the flip side is that some people feel defeated because they were not able to make the marriage last and they wonder what they did to make their spouse cheat.

In this situation, the cause of divorce makes the couple feel horrible about their spouse and even themselves.

A person who is considering separating from his or her spouse should consider their actions very carefully, especially if minor children are involved.

There are many factors that need to be considered before one spouse decides to leave the marital home.

The goal of one spouse paying alimony to the other is so that the recipient retains the same standard of living as he or she had during the marriage.

When one spouse is seeking alimony payments from the other, the question of whether spousal support should be paid and how much is decided by a judge.

The expectation is for each spouse to be self-supporting.

A judge who must make a ruling on the question of alimony will look at how much one spouse contributed to the marriage through unpaid work.

If one spouse worked while the other one attended college or university, then that person's contribution to the marriage will be weighed when determining how much alimony should be ordered.

If one spouse's ability to make a living is affected by his or her parenting responsibilities, then the judge may order a higher amount of spousal support until the children are in school full-time or their needs change.

How do you handle your personal finances after years of your spouse taking care of the household budget?

Divorce lawyers advise against dating while still married in order to prevent your spouse's attorney from gaining an edge during court proceedings and property settlements.

Alleviating feelings of anger, jealousy, resentment and humiliation in your spouse may also help speed the divorce proceedings along and ultimately free you to start a new relationship.

The amount of spousal support payable depends on the needs of the dependent spouse and the financial means of the payor.

In a situation where the spouse is unable to work because of a mental or physical challenge, spousal support may be ordered.

When a person is only able to work part-time, the other spouse may be required to pay support to "top up" his or her earnings.

Unless the marriage was a long-term one where one spouse didn't work outside the home, it's unlikely that a judge would award spousal support for life.

For example, a paying spouse may want to consider offering a lower rate of support on a permanent basis than paying a higher amount of temporary support.

This might be an option if paying temporary support would cause financial hardship for the paying spouse.

The payment could be made in cash or a transfer of property of equal value.The paying spouse may want to consult with a financial expert to determine what the best course of action would be in his or her particular situation.

No one should automatically assume that they are entitled to receive money from a former spouse.

A judge may award alimony to a former spouse while they are attempting to upgrade their job skills.

In most cases where spousal support is ordered, it is a situation where one spouse has been economically dependent on the other in a long-term marriage.

Certain states, like California, have unwritten guidelines for determining how long a former spouse will receive alimony.

Keeping matters civil and remaining thoughtful about your spouse's feelings can help lessen the burden on innocent family members and yourself as well.

If you and your spouse weren't married for a long time, using forms you find online may be the way to get the necessary papers filed to end your marriage.

This option may not be the right one if your spouse will be contesting the divorce.

If you aren't ready to divorce yet but you want to get certain issues settled between you and your spouse, you may want to find a kit offering a separation agreement form.

Prove that the requesting spouse supported the other spouse through school or other form of professional development, resulting in a higher earning potential for the spouse who would have to pay support.

Before you can decide whether this is the right option for you and your spouse, you need to educate yourself about the process.

Sometimes mediation occurs with only the mediator and the divorcing couple, although attorneys may also attend at the discretion of each spouse.

Private sessions give each spouse a safe opportunity to discuss emotional elements, domestic abuse issues or any other type of sensitive information pertinent to the divorce.

Now that the issues are resolved and precise agreements made, the mediator provides each spouse with an agreement draft.

Anytime one spouse is determined to get a no-fault divorce, there is very little, if anything, the other party can do to stop the proceedings.

When one spouse holds more power than the other does, it can cause a one-sided relationship to spin out of control.

Hopefully, you and your spouse have put your heads and hearts together to find out how to stop a divorce that no one really wants.

You may think that now is the time to go out and find another suitable spouse, or maybe you are anxious to get back out on the dating scene so you can give yourself the opportunity to be wild.

Alimony, or spousal support, represents the money tendered to the divorcing or separated spouse who has lower income and fewer financial resources.

This money comes directly from the other spouse who has a larger cache of resources from which to draw.

In most cases across America, judges typically only award alimony to a spouse who has been largely dependent upon the other spouse for a long time.

Obviously, the spouse who receives alimony benefits from an expanded income but there are financial benefits for the spouse who pays alimony as well.

For the spouse in a higher tax bracket, paying alimony may actually save him a substantial amount when tax time rolls around.

If you and your spouse are considering divorce and alimony, the sections below may help you both decide if spousal support is right for you.

Neither spouse can pay or receive alimony during the time in which they share a residence.

This one likely falls into the realm of common sense, but alimony requirements specify that payments must cease when one or the other spouse dies.

This means that the family of the deceased spouse cannot continue to receive or make use of any payment that occurred after death.

It also means that the family of the deceased spouse who paid alimony does not have to continue the alimony payments.

If you and your spouse live in different states, either one of you can file for divorce as long as the residency requirement is met.

Once the papers have been filed with the court clerk's office in the county where the divorce will be heard, a copy must be served on the other spouse (the respondent).

The other spouse is given a chance to respond to the divorce petition.

Avoid using the children as a weapon against your spouse.

In a case where you and your spouse have accumulated assets throughout the marriage and/or have minor children, you need to work with someone who can provide you with expert advice.

Before you and your spouse rush to get the ball rolling, take some time to find out about the divorce laws in your state.

Now that you've prepared yourself, you and your spouse can now sit down and fill out the forms.

Elizabeth Benedict of the Huffington Post writes, "Whatever you do, don't get divorced in Massachusetts - and don't be living there if your spouse decides to divorce you, especially if you're the higher earner.

Alimony laws in Massachusetts include extreme payment terms and future consideration of income and new spouse assets for modifications.

In addition, the paying spouse is often ordered to pay a large percentage of his income to his ex-spouse.

This clause allows the income and assets of the payer's future spouse to be considered for future payment modifications or liability.

If a re-married alimony payer becomes unable to pay future alimony payments, the new spouse becomes responsible for paying the ordered maintenance.

Proposed reform sets to eliminate liability issues from a payer's future new spouse.

This means the income and assets of a 2nd spouse is no longer considered for order modifications, nor can a new spouse be held responsible for making alimony payments to the payer's ex.

It is paid by one spouse to the other, and may be ordered by a judge during separation or as part of a divorce decree.

This could result in the payer receiving a higher income tax refund, since he or she is effectively splitting income with the separated or former spouse.

A payment made to another person or company on behalf of a spouse for housing, medical bills, tuition or taxes may also be considered alimony payments for income tax purposes.

Texas is one of the 10 community property states in the U.S. This means that each spouse has an interest in all the assets acquired during the marriage that are not considered separate property.

An asset that is determined to be separate property cannot be awarded to the other spouse as part of a divorce settlement.

The divorce settlement may direct that one person is responsible for paying a particular debt, but if that individual does not pay it, the creditor can come after the other spouse for payment.

If one spouse is granted possession of the matrimonial home and defaults on the existing mortgage, the other spouse may be held responsible for paying the debt.

To avoid this scenario, the matrimonial home should be refinanced following the divorce so that the non-occupying spouse's name is no longer on the mortgage.

A judge can also make a change to an existing spousal support order if the paying spouse's financial circumstances change significantly.

Getting together with your spouse and carefully discussing custody issues before putting anything down in writing will most likely spare your children additional pain that could stem from frequently reshuffling their custody.

If you and your spouse aren't sure what sort of custody arrangements you need, spend some time studying your options before you make a final decision.

Before divorce came along, it's likely you and your spouse shared parenting duties fairly equally.

In the latter action, the involved spouses wish to live apart but not divorce and one spouse wants or needs alimony to do so (hence the word, "maintenance").

A divorce action begins when one spouse files a petition for divorce; a decree of separate maintenance action begins when one spouse files a petition to establish maintenance.

Georgia allows "no-fault" divorces, in which neither party is identified as responsible for the demise of the marriage, and "fault" divorces, in which one spouse's behavior is identified as the reason for the divorce.

A fault divorce can be based on one or more of 13 different grounds, including adultery, desertion, abuse, mental illness or one spouse's addiction to drugs or alcohol.

One spouse must be named the defendant even if the divorce is cordial.

Either spouse can file for a divorce, even a spouse who lives outside of Georgia.

In this circumstance, however, the non-filing spouse would need to satisfy the state's residency requirements.

This means that it is not guaranteed that each spouse will receive half of the marital estate.

Typically, however, property acquired prior to marriage is returned to the spouse who owned it and all other property is divided equally.

Temporary alimony is awarded to the spouse for the duration of the divorce.

Permanent alimony is awarded to a spouse for the remainder of their lifetime or until they remarry or cohabitate with someone.

This type of alimony is usually awarded when the spouse is unable to work due to age, disability or needing to care for a disabled child.

Therefore, unless one spouse lives out of state or is abusive, the court will give each parent equal time with the child.

However, a spouse with a higher income, but who does not have custody of the child, may be required to pay child support if the other spouse shows a valid need.

If you get your community involved or work with your children and spouse on the project, you are teaching them a valuable lesson about renewable energy and green living.

Are you a collector of animal heads that you or your spouse has had mounted?

You can snag your spouse's belongings and bust out the puffy paint.

If your friend, girlfriend, spouse, or acquaintance generally wears a certain type, this outline could make it simple to choose a new scent.

Is the person you're buying perfume for your girlfriend, spouse, or lover?

Your spouse may be allergic to dog hair.

The same is true for intimate glamour shots in which women have the option of posing with a friend or spouse in an effort to produce private boudoir shots.

Use a 6x6 album for themed projects such as an ABC album or a "10 Reasons Why I Love You" book for your spouse.

How much does your spouse know about your scrapbooking habit?

For example, you could highlight the words "I love you" in a page featuring a letter to your spouse.

Just as you may describe your spouse as loyal or your children as mischievous, pets tend to display their own unique personalities too.

Typically, one spouse prefers to spend the time with a particular family, while the other spouse wants to spend that time elsewhere.

Try not to say anything negative about a particular person or a family member because it really won't serve any helpful purpose; the odds are good that your spouse knows exactly how you feel.

This can be done by rotating with whom you spend the holidays with (this year your parent's next year it's your spouse's), or you can cut the holiday in half (three days here, three days there).

Even better, why not make phone calls and catch up with friends while folding that laundry, or if applicable, ask your spouse to help you?

Ask your spouse to help with shopping and wrapping presents.

Planning a destination wedding requires extra time and effort on both you and your spouse's parts.

Decide if this option is okay with you and your future spouse.

For example, if you and your spouse love candy, make your topper a candy bouquet.

The last thing is for you to want your future spouse to feel as if he or she isn't trusted.

There will be those who still believe in carrying home a piece of that wedding cake and slipping it beneath their pillow to dream of their future spouse.

Domestic partners may receive health coverage under their spouse, rights to stepparent adoption, death benefits and in certain instances, estate administration.

Civil unions can also offer some of the same benefits as marriage including access to medical records, property transfer, and testimonial unity in the event of legal proceedings against one's spouse.

Honeymooners can indulge in relaxation with their new spouse in an overwater bungalow or a romantic lagoon-side private picnic.

Obviously, you'll want to spend as much time with your new spouse as possible, so look for fun things to do that you both can enjoy.

Time-If you and your soon-to-be spouse both work, then you have two schedules to work around.

A wedding vow is an oath or a promise of the commitment you are making to your new spouse.

Marriage and relationship experts universally agree that one of the best ways to stay connected to your spouse and maintain a good relationship is to set aside uninterrupted time together.

Try to work time into your schedule each week to reconnect with your spouse.

Another important piece of marriage advice is to talk regularly with your spouse about issues that you are concerned about.

When talking to your spouse, avoid placing blame -- this only puts the other person on the defense and often doesn't resolve anything.