Divorce Advice for Men | Fathers Rights Divorce | Child Custody

By Jennifer Paine

Attorney, Cordell & Cordell

The recent news of Arnold Schwarzenegger's "love child" has glossed over a far more common and problematic issue in his situation that you are more likely to face – a trial separation.

When clients come to me for legal separation advice, I tell them a trial separation is a break - from your spouse, from "it all" - to determine whether you are just going through a low point in your marriage or you should divorce.

At first blush, it sounds like a good idea. No one wants to spend money divorcing needlessly, particularly when money is in short supply to begin with.

But, if you are not careful, that separation to help you determine whether to divorce can snowball into the biggest problem in your divorce.

Here is some separation advice for men on what you should not do during your trial separation.

Question: My wife and I are separated but agreed to delay the divorce until we pay down debt. 

I am living with my brother to stretch the budget, but am I doing the right thing? 

Can this be some type of stall on her part or could it be seen as me leaving my wife since I moved out? I just found out that she has opened a checking account in her own name and I am not sure what to make of this either.