In HBO’s series “Divorce”, the character Diane expresses her dissatisfaction with her marriage by pulling a gun on her husband an accidentally shooting him. As cathartic as that may be in a TV show, in real life such an emotional exit may land you in jail, and at the very least make it very difficult to resolve your divorce in an amicable way.
If you are thinking of divorce, it’s important that you have a clear plan and get the advice you need to make good choices. Most of us wouldn’t think of setting out on a road trip without Google Maps, so why undertake a major life transition like a divorce without a clear idea of your destination and how to get there. Here are some tips for before you take the major step of telling your spouse you want a divorce.
- Make sure you have copies of all documents, bank statements, tax returns, insurance policies, and all asset and debt information.
- Video and/ or photograph the furnishings of your house.
- Prepare Financially. Find out how much you can expect roughly to receive in child support, if spousal support is an option, what your career opportunities will be and create a realistic budget.
- Make sure you have a confidential way to communicate with your attorney or other professionals about the divorce. You may need an email account that your spouse does not have access to.
- Get professional advice from a lawyer who can help you make a plan without stirring the pot of disagreement between you and your spouse or requiring a hefty retainer. Get answers to questions about the process of divorce, child support calculations and discuss strategy, options, and timelines.
The better prepared you are BEFORE you talk to your spouse, the better the conversation will go and the less stressful and expensive your divorce will be.
If you want to talk to a smart, kind lawyer who can help, call my office for a consultation appointment at 985-327-3024 or email me at kim@simplydivorce.me.