Many Minnesota couples consider religion when they are contemplating marriage and children. Having an agreement about what types of traditions your family will participate in and what belief structure will guide decision making is an important part of any relationship. However, most Minnesota readers don’t consider the impact of religion on divorce.
Religion can become a part of the divorce discussion for people who observe religions that do not allow or discourage divorce. Many couples are comprised of partners with two different religions or one partner who is religious and another who is not. When this situation arises and the couple knows that the relationship is over, it can be difficult to reconcile the religious implications of that decision.
Whether religion is seen as a barrier to divorce or just a factor that makes the decision more difficult, it’s often helpful to seek advice from a trusted advisor who can help sort out the different priorities at play. For couples with children who are considering a divorce, a discussion about ongoing religious education and participation is also a very important part of separation and divorce agreements. Deciding which holidays to celebrate and where the children will spend those holidays is important, along with a joint decision on the religious observances associated with holidays.
Many families choose to include these decisions in child custody agreements along with a schedule for holiday observances and parenting time.
Our Minnesota law firm handles these types of negotiations and child custody agreements; more information about our practice is available on our website.
Source: Huffington Post, “Divorce and Devotion: How Does Religion Factor in Splits,” Bari Zell Weinberger, August 3, 2012.