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Re:Suicide rising across the US by toomuchtodo on Thursday June 07, 2018 @03:27PM (#17259334)
Agreed. Divorce is one of the most financially devastating events that can happen in one’s life. The longer I’m alive, the longer I recommend to people to never get married. Live together, but keep your finances separate (does not apply in community property states; watch out!).
Re:Suicide rising across the US by dsnuh on Thursday June 07, 2018 @04:18PM (#17259846)
I doubt I will be able to recover from mine. I'm paying $1700 per month in child support for two kids, even though I have custody of them 45% of the time. I have Smith-Ostler riders to collect 12% from any bonus, stock option sales, RSUs, etc. I basically have to restart from scratch on my 401k, as that was used to pay off the divorce costs and equalizations. I finished paying off spousal support, which was another $1800 per month, but now I am so far in the hole that I doubt I will ever dig out. It's been over two years since the divorce, but I am still struggling just to make my mortgage every month.

I don't know if people on HN (who I assume a majority of are high earners) realize just how much money you can be on the hook for if you have a motivated ex-spouse with an attorney. My ex was a stay-at-home mom with a side business as a photographer. Good luck getting a fair shake in court when you get a W-2 salary, and the other party runs their own business.

Edit: typo - I have 45% custody, not 55% custody.

Re:Suicide rising across the US by ams6110 on Thursday June 07, 2018 @03:37PM (#17259450)
Prenuptial agreements are a thing. Though there's probably some sound thinking behind the point of view that if you aren't willing to get married without a prenup, then you really shouldn't be getting married.
Re:Suicide rising across the US by dsnuh on Thursday June 07, 2018 @04:09PM (#17259741)
Good luck actually getting that pre-nup enforced in court!

Just don't get married, unless you are ready to lose it all if it goes south.

Re:Suicide rising across the US by User23 on Thursday June 07, 2018 @04:04PM (#17259702)
Or you can marry someone who doesn't consider divorce an option, for example a devout Catholic. Of course that assumes they will stick to their beliefs in the face of temptation, and observably many do not.