Marriage is a big commitment and not one that should be entered into lightly. People get married for many different reasons, and finding out about those reasons can be an enjoyable experience all its own. Compatibility is a significant factor in most marriages. It’s crucial to find someone who shares your values, including any financial values you have. If you learn that you and your spouse aren’t financially compatible after getting married, speak with a Wichita divorce lawyer.

The Impact of Financial Incompatibility

When you find the person you believe you are going to spend the rest of your life with, you may be willing to overlook some personality traits that you may not necessarily agree with. Over time, those traits can start to manifest themselves as core disagreements and incompatibilities. Financial incompatibility has the power to destroy your relationship. After all, if you value money but your partner doesn’t, it can cause serious strife.

When you realize that you and your partner are not financially compatible, you may have to accept that your marriage is no longer viable. Fundamental disagreements about money can lead to ugly, contested divorces. In a contested divorce, your spouse may try to get as much as they can out of you as a way to get revenge for ending the marriage. It can be tough to work out spousal support, child custody, and asset division with someone who resents you.

If you enter into a marriage already distrusting your partner financially, it may not be a good foundation for a solid relationship. You may have considered a prenuptial agreement, which can be a good way to ensure your assets in the event that your marriage doesn’t work out. Evidence of financial incompatibility can be enough to erode the trust in your relationship.

Without trust, there may be nowhere left for your marriage to go. A good divorce lawyer can help you work out the next steps.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Kansas has one of the lowest divorce rates in the country. As of 2022, the divorce rate in Kansas was 1.9 per 1,000 residents. Although this rate is low, these divorces resulted from a broad range of reasons, including a lack of trust stemming from financial incompatibility. If you are dealing with post-divorce trauma, you may want to talk with a Wichita support group, such as DivorceCare.

Overcoming Financial Incompatibility

When you learn that you and your spouse are not financially compatible, that doesn’t mean your relationship must end overnight. There are many ways you and your spouse can get on the same page and become financially compatible. It takes work, commitment, and determination from both parties, but it can be done. If your spouse is willing to try, you might save the marriage. If they are unwilling to compromise at all, divorce may be your next step.

Differing opinions and an unwillingness to find common ground can lead to a loss of trust and stability, which can then reveal additional problems you may have been unwilling to notice before. It’s important to have open and honest conversations about your expectations before it’s too late to save your relationship. Here are some conversation topics you can use to address concerns about financial incompatibility:

  • Communication: For your relationship to work, it needs to be built on a foundation of trust and honest communication. If you have a problem in your relationship, you need to address it promptly and work through it together. If you ignore it and let it fester, it can turn into a much bigger problem and may even lead to the end of the relationship. Financial security is something you need to talk about together.
  • Budgeting: If you are concerned about your spouse’s handling of money, you may want to talk about creating a budget together. Budgeting can be a beneficial activity that brings you closer together while helping you save money. Creating a budget is a strong compromise that opens the door for further conversation about finances down the road.

FAQs

Q: Is It Important to Have Mutual Goals in Your Relationship?

A: It is absolutely important to have mutual goals in your relationship. Working towards something together can put you both on the same page and give you something to believe in as a couple. Granted, it is also important for these goals to be realistic and reachable. You may want to start saving for a nice vacation or a bigger house. These goals are typically things that benefit your relationship

Q: Can I Hide Money From My Spouse?

A: Absolutely not. Hiding money from your spouse can result in penalties during divorce proceedings. First and foremost, it paints you as the villain in the court’s eyes if you are caught. If the court perceives you as dishonest, it can hurt your standing. Hiding money from your spouse in a divorce is also a crime and could lead to severe consequences for you. If you are caught, you can face severe legal consequences.

Q: Can Financial Incompatibility Hurt My Marriage?

A: Yes, it is entirely possible for financial incompatibility to hurt your marriage. If you are worried about saving money and your spouse has no problem spending money, the difference can be enough to cause permanent damage to your relationship. However, if you are both willing to find a middle ground and work on the issue, there’s no reason your marriage can’t continue to thrive. Marriage is all about compromise and hard work.

Q: How Can I Protect My Assets in a Divorce?

A: There are many ways you can protect your assets in a divorce. The most effective way is to plan ahead with a prenuptial agreement. Having the foresight to prepare for a financial problem can benefit you greatly if something ever happens. Getting your spouse to sign a prenup can be difficult, as many may see a prenup as an insult or a sign of mistrust. If your partner refuses to sign one outright, that may be a red flag.

Contact Us Today

At Stange Law Firm, we can help you work through your divorce. Contact us to speak to someone about your case.