1. Consult an attorney.<\/strong> 10 Ways to Prepare for DIVORCE 1. Consult an attorney. Becoming informed about your legal rights and responsibilities and what issues you and your spouse must reach agreements on is the most crucial step in the divorce process. An experienced divorce attorney will be able to counsel you on the law as it applies to …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"parent":95,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"template_fullwidth.php","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"yoast_head":"\n
\nBecoming informed about your legal rights and responsibilities and what issues you and your spouse must reach agreements on is the most crucial step in the divorce process. An experienced divorce attorney will be able to counsel you on the law as it applies to the facts of your situation and advise you on the best way to proceed (or not proceed).
\nA little planning goes a long way in this area because it is much more difficult to obtain these documents through discovery procedures at a later date. Go through the household files and make copies of everything you can find: tax returns, bank statements, check registers, investment statements, retirement account statements, employee benefits handbooks, life insurance policies, mortgage documents, financial statements, credit card statements, wills, Social Security statements, automobile titles, etc. If your spouse is self-employed, it is important to gather as much information as possible about the finances of the business. Suggest that you and your spouse do a financial statement so that you are both aware of the family finances. Additionally, don\u2019t forget to check the home computer as a source of financial information. Many people keep track of their finances using spreadsheets or budgeting software. Make copies of any financial data stored on your home computer.
\nYou need not make an exhaustive list including every single kitchen utensil, but do list the major items: furniture, artwork, jewelry, appliances, automobiles, etc. Don\u2019t forget to check the storage areas of your home and your safe deposit box for valuables.
\nIf possible, go through your check register for the past year and write down the cost of each utility, mortgage, and other household expense for each month. You and your spouse will need this for the required AFFIDAVIT OF INCOME AND EXPENSES for the Court. Keep track of the cash you spend on a daily basis so that you\u2019ll be able to ascertain your monthly cash expenditures also. Knowledge of your household expenses is important at the beginning of the case, when temporary support is often an issue. It is also important during settlement of the case, when you will make a realistic appraisal of your ability to afford the home after divorce. A recent financial disclosure to your bank or mortgage company could be helpful.
\nIf possible, sit down with your spouse and determine the amount of family debt and consider paying it down before divorce. Allocation of marital debt among divorcing spouses is one of the most difficult items to negotiate. The funds that were formerly available to support one household must now support two households and there is therefore less money available to pay off debt. If you have the leisure of planning when you will initiate divorce proceedings, pay down marital debt before filing for divorce. Consider canceling credit cards if your spouse has a bad spending habit. Hopefully, this will minimize the financial damage that your spouse can do during the divorce. While taking stock of debt, determine whether any of the debt was incurred by one spouse or the other prior to the date of marriage. This would be considered \u201cnon-marital debt\u201d and it belongs to the spouse who incurred it.
\nIf your spouse earns a regular salary, it is easy to look at a pay stub to determine his\/her income. However, if your spouse is self-employed, owns a business, or receives any portion of his\/her income in cash, it is much more difficult to determine the amount of his\/her income. If your spouse is self-employed or gets paid in cash, keep track of the money flowing in for several months and get bank statements for the business.
\nPerhaps you have been out of the workforce for a while and have been devoting yourself to childrearing. Unless you have a very young child, you will probably have to work after the divorce. Assess what your current employability is and whether furthering your education prior to divorce would benefit you in the long run.
\nIf you do not have credit cards in your own name, apply for them now, use them, and establish your own credit history. If you have a poor credit history, try to pay creditors now and improve your own credit rating prior to divorce.
\nEven if divorce is a remote possibility, you should always have access to money of your own. If your spouse moves out and stops paying bills, you will need to pay them until temporary support orders can be entered. If you are the one who is going to file for divorce, you\u2019ll need money for a retainer. If you envision moving out of the marital home, you may need money for a security deposit and for household items. Start saving now and plan to initiate divorce proceedings when you have built up a nest egg of your own.
\nAs you realize that a divorce is imminent, you will undoubtedly spend lots of time researching, collecting documents, interviewing attorneys, etc. Even though these activities take up much of your time, you must remember to put your children first. Of all the parties to a divorce, children are the ones who often suffer the most. During the divorce process, keep your children\u2019s routines as normal as possible. If you and your spouse are arguing in front of the children \u2013 stop. Stay involved (or become involved) in your children\u2019s school, sports, and social activities. Do not badmouth your spouse to your children. Do not use the children as your source of psychological support. Children need and deserve the love and attention of both of their parents before, during, and after divorce. Put your children first in your life and remember that your roles as parents will go on long after the final divorce papers are signed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"