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There is no guarantee of alimony in a Virginia divorce. There are rules of thumb — but no hard and fast laws. Attorneys in Virginia accurately refer to alimony (also called spousal support) as the “Wild West.

For many individuals, getting divorced forces them to dive deep into the world of personal finance . . . sometimes kicking and screaming. It is a necessary part of everyday life, though, and everyone needs to have a decent understanding of money. As a divorce mediator with specialized credentials – I am Certified as a Divorce Financial Analyst® -- I spend a lot of time making sure that both parties to a divorce have the requisite financial knowledge to move forward with their lives as independents (not married).

Children, too, often get an unanticipated education in family finance when their parents get divorced.

6 Tips for Financial Success After Divorce
Experienced Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA) Provides Advice

Divorce is difficult for all involved parties – the divorcing couple, their loved ones, their children – but it is also an opportunity to improve your life.

When a couple with children divorces, they need to consider how college expenses will now be planned. Will their original thinking about paying for college look different? Yes. Here are questions they need to consider:

Are you willing to change your lifestyle --even more than a divorce normally alters lifestyle -- in order to continue with your original thinking on paying for college? This may mean less alimony/part-time job/smaller house so that money can continue to be put away for college.