A divorce can be one of the most stressful events that a person can experience. However, it may be possible to make it easier to transition to life as a single person by anticipating these challenges before ending up in a Washington divorce court. Let’s take a closer look at some of the specific challenges that you should be ready for when ending your marriage.

Are you ready to take care of yourself?

While married, your spouse may have been responsible for cooking, cleaning or paying bills. They may also have been the one to drive you to appointments or to arrange social outings with friends. Now that you are on your own, you will be responsible for taking care of all of those things, and that may be stressful for someone who may struggle to stay organized or who may have social anxiety.

Divorce can be expensive

If you choose to end your marriage through litigation, you could easily spend $10,000 or more on legal fees. After your marriage is officially dissolved, you may need to make your own rent payment, car payment and pay other bills on your own. Even if you receive alimony from your spouse, it won’t necessarily be enough to cover your living expenses.

What happens if you have kids with your former spouse?

Perhaps the biggest challenge after a divorce is raising a child with the person you are no longer married to. In most cases, issues relating to child custody or support are dealt with after a marriage ends. However, it is a good idea to have a parenting plan in place before agreeing to a final settlement.

Ending a marriage may have an impact on your financial, physical and mental health. However, there may be steps that you can take to help cope with the potential negative consequences of a divorce. These steps may include seeking alimony, child support payments or other assistance from your spouse as part of a divorce settlement.