While divorce attorneys tend to be experts on the matter of family law, there are a number of things they often neglect to tell you or don’t think are relevant information. For this blog post, we will turn to the advice of a recent divorcee who speaks candidly about her experience going through a rough divorce. Keep in mind that every divorce is different, and this post may in no way be relevant to your situation. That being said, we think there are themes that emerge that are likely to be useful or enlightening for most people in this situation. For more information on divorce and family law, be sure to contact a local law firm who can provide you guidance on the topic.
- The first thing you should know about divorce is that it is pretty much guaranteed to be an unpleasant experience. Regardless of how well you get along with your spouse, divorce leads people to act in an unpleasant fashion. Bitterness, envy, and anger often arise as the prevailing emotions, especially if the spouse is not happy with the divorce proceedings.
- The next thing you need to know about divorce is that you need to document everything that you own. Before filing for divorce or separating, you will want to take photos of everything in the family home. A video that can be later analyzed is another good way of proceeding with this task. It is important to document everything that you have in case your spouse decides to try and sell off or take some of your assets without disclosing that in the divorce proceedings.
- Maybe the most important is to hire a talented divorce attorney to represent your interests. It is best to hire someone who specializes in family law or custody law to be sure that you have the best possible representation possible. Many lawyers in this field offer free consultations to discuss your case before you decide whether to hire them. We recommend checking with at least three to five attorneys before deciding. Pick someone who aligns well with your interests and goals.
- Keep record after separation of everything you do and spend. This is an imperative step because as soon as you file for divorce you are considered legally separated by the court system. From the day that you are legally separated, the concept of community property may stop. Some people like to keep a journal to document everything that they do every day and all of the expenses they pay for. This will prove useful when it comes to financial negotiations. Without documentation, your spouse may speculate or accuse you of blowing through money unnecessarily.
- Our last piece of advice is to plan, plan, plan. Meticulous planning is essential for a good outcome of the divorce and subsequent living situation. It is good to know how much it will cost you to live on your own, what your monthly expenses are for everything else. For more information, be sure to have a detailed conversation with your custody lawyer.