If A Divorce Seems Likely, Here Are 10 Things You Should Do Right Now
Going through a divorce is one of the most difficult things that people go through in life. Nearly every single thing in your life is going to change, and it can leave you floundering for what to do and what steps to take next. If you're convinced that your marriage is beyond repair and you're on the road to divorce, these are ten measures you can take to get ready for the process.
Put your kids as your top priority
During the divorce process, it is important to maintain your children's routines as consistently as possible. If you and your spouse can't co-parent with the kids without bickering, establish separate times for each of you to be with the youngsters.
Continue to participate (or get involved) in your children's school, sports, and social activities. Do not criticize your spouse in front of your children. Put the needs of your children before everything else in your life. Additionally, when determining custody of your children a Judge is likely to look at the past in order to determine what to do in the future.
Copy documents
Lawsuit (even suits for divorce) are fueled by information as much as money. Knowing pertinent information is crucial to a successful presentation of your case in Court. Often times, that information comes from documents, so making copies of those documents is extremely important.
Make copies of everything you can find in your house, including tax returns, bank statements, check registers, investment statements, retirement account statements, employee benefits handbooks, life insurance policies (if any), mortgage documents (mortgage and deed), and financial statements.
If your spouse is self-employed, you'll need to get a detailed handle on the company's financial status. Make duplicate copies of any financial information saved on your home computer.
Create a Household Inventory
Things tend to go missing during divorces. Especially items with sentimental significance. Additionally, it's not uncommon for items to be sold, pawned, or given away by spouses for a variety of reasons.
List the key objects and their price tags: furniture, art, jewelry, appliances, and automobiles are just a few examples. Make sure your house's storage areas and your safe deposit box for valuables aren't being overlooked. Taking pictures of areas in your home with your cell phone can help you with your inventory.
However, if you are in a similar situation and your spouse has assets that may be divided to help you move on independently, it is important to know exactly what they are so that the process goes as smoothly as possible. (Being aware of all marital assets when dividing property is essential.)
Know Your Household Expenses
A budget is a good practice regardless of whether you're going through a divorce or not. However, it can be essential to understanding exactly what your financial independence will require, especially if you're not the one in your household that handles the bills.
To figure out what you spent money on, look at your bank statements for the past year and keep track of each utility, mortgage, and other household expenditure for each month. Keep an eye on how much cash you spend every day so that you can also calculate your monthly expenditures.
Manage Debt
Before divorce, it may be worth considering paying off the family debt. The division of marital debt among divorcing spouses is one of the most difficult topics to negotiate.
Determining the source of debt after marriage is a good time to take stock of your debts. Determine whether any debt was incurred by one spouse or the other before the date of marriage, which would be referred to as "separate debt."
Know What Your Spouse Earns
If your spouse receives a regular pay, it's simple to look at a payroll document; if your spouse is self-employed or runs a company, try to keep track of the money coming in for several months.
Assess Your Earning Power
Perhaps you've been out of the workforce for a while and have been focusing on raising your children. Examine your present employability and whether furthering your education before splitting up would be beneficial in the long run.
Know your Credit History
If you don't already have credit cards in your own name, apply for them now and start using them. If you have a bad credit history, try to pay off your bills on time and improve your credit score before divorce.
Financial Independence
You should always have your own cash on hand. If your spouse leaves home and stops paying bills, you'll be responsible for paying them until definitive support orders can be filed and obtained from a judge. If you're going to file for divorce, you'll need a retainer to hire an attorney. Make preparations to begin divorce procedures as soon as possible after accumulating your own nest egg.
Talk with an attorney
Learn about your legal rights and responsibilities so you are aware of what you need to do. Assume that after the divorce, you choose to stay at home with your children until the finalization date approaches. Even briefly residing at your parents' house may be a big mistake from a legal standpoint.
As you can see, there are many different things to consider before filing suit for divorce in the State of Texas.
If you have any questions regarding divorce, division of marital property or other family law issues, please feel free to call us at 713-999-9398, email us at jmoon@moonlawfirm.com or come by the office at 1111 Fairmont Parkway, Pasadena, Texas 77504. I look forward to hearing from you and working with you on your case.
