Note that information given in this section cannot take the place of a divorce lawyer. For legal divorce advice about your specific situation, you must consult a qualified lawyer. See our disclaimer.

"My ex-husband and I divorced five years ago, but we've recently started seeing each other again, and he wants us to remarry. Is this a good idea?"

Only you can decide what’s best for you. But be careful. Try to remember why you divorced in the first place. By and large, behavior doesn’t change. If your spouse had a history of cheating on you in the past but now promises to be faithful forever, remember, he or she made that promise to you once before.

Can second marriages work? Sure. Have I divorced the same couple more than once? Yes. So before you remarry your ex, think long and hard about your life and your future -- and whatever else you do, make sure you sign a premarital agreement before you say "I do" again.

Karen A. Covy, J.D. is an attorney and family-law mediator in Chicago. She owns and operates Midwest Mediation as well as a successful family-law firm. This answer is an excerpt from When Happily Ever After Ends (2006), used by permission of its publisher, Sphinx Publishing, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. She can be reached at (312) 236-1670. View her Divorce Magazine profile.