Kansas City Legal Blog

For people in Kansas, divorce can mean both emotional and financial turmoil. The former can make the latter worse, so it is important to start with a practical plan for one's finances. People should make a short-term budget that encompasses new expenses, such as new health insurance and a new vehicle. The budget can be revised after three to six months once the person has a better handle on expenses.

One item on the budget might be a new place to live, but some people also opt to keep the house. There are a few things the person considering this should keep in mind: It may simply be too big or too expensive. In addition to refinancing the mortgage, the person must assume other costs associated with owning a house on a single income. Some people may prefer to take assets that are more liquid, such as a savings account. It is also important to look at whether there are tax obligations on an asset, such as a retirement account, and how that affects its value.

Social media is increasingly pervasive in Kansas and across the country, and participating in it can be problematic for people who are approaching or going through a divorce. For people who are considering ending their marriage, it can be a good idea to take precautions with regard to social media use. Once something has been posted online, it is out there for the world to see, which means it could become fodder for use by adverse parties or their lawyers. Damage control prior to divorce can be performed by removing mean-spirited, negative or lewd comments or posts.

Once the divorce process has begun, the parties should be even more aware of their social media presence. Generally speaking, it's a good idea to minimize or eliminate altogether the use of social media during the proceedings. For people who want to use it, it's best to avoid sharing details. If the divorce is amicable, the parties might discuss when to make their new status public.

Before July 1, drivers in Kansas could be ticketed for not taking field sobriety tests. However, a change to state law means that drivers will now only face a license suspension for a test refusal. The license suspension is good for a full year, which is the same penalty for failing a blood or breathalyzer test. Furthermore, it is still possible for a driver to be charged and convicted of a DUI based on other evidence collected.

Field sobriety tests may require a driver to walk in a straight line or stand on one leg for a certain amount of time. A lobbyist for law enforcement groups in the state says that the prospect of being charged with a crime provided motorists with an incentive to take field sobriety tests. If a driver doesn't consent to them, it may be more difficult for an officer to show reasonable cause to charge that individual with drunk driving.

Parents in Kansas and throughout the country may be anxious about raising their children after a divorce. However, as long as they place the child's needs above their own, it can be a positive experience. Eventually, children are able to accept that their parents love them even if they don't necessarily love each other anymore. Over time, the relationship between the parents may improve as well.

While the relationship may not be the same as it was before, it can still be a strong one that is based on respect for the other person. Parents who share the responsibility of raising their children may find that there is less stress in their lives. This is because they are only with the child for about half the time. In addition, each person is only responsible for roughly half the cost of raising a son or daughter.