Are You Ready For Divorce? What You Should Know Before Filing For Divorce
Breaking up with your life partner is hard. Harder than a usual breakup where you can slam the door shut and leave. There are several key things one must consider before you make the final decision.
For example, finding a good affordable divorce lawyer is important for a seamless separation process. At the same time, new financial considerations may be in order depending on whether or not alimony is a factor in a given case.
If you're reading this, you might be thinking of starting this journey towards a happy future alone sooner rather than later! We're going to shed some light on where exactly you can begin this exciting new chapter of your life.
Hire A Divorce Attorney
Sorting out your divorce without going to court saves not only time and money but also prevents you and your family from the stress and discord of having to go through what can be a lengthy and sometimes tough situation inside the court.
However, if it's not possible to do so, then you can seek out an attorney who is dedicated and willing to fight for your cause.
Don't be worried - this person will help with everything that has to do with divorce, including any paperwork necessary.
You want two things from the lawyer: You need them to know how important setting things up quickly is. But you also need them to be more than willing to fight for you if the time comes for an impromptu bout in either context.
Organize Your Finance
You want to get a picture of where you and your spouse stand financially, and so, to do so, it might be helpful to create a list of your marital assets and debts.
First, you will need to determine what an asset and debt are by distributing what you two own and owe.
Some things are clear-cut, like the home or any other financial accounts that you're both listed on. Still, there could be different components for which determining ownership might take more discussion, such as inheritance, belongings purchased during the marriage that was brought into the marriage, or even pension plans.
Next, you will need to determine a debt that you have incurred individually because these debts might need to be refinanced post-divorce.
Close All Joint Credit Accounts
Before you separate, it's best to cancel any credit accounts you might have. This will prevent any surprises down the road should your spouse decide to use credit cards that you shared and run up a high balance that was once in your name.
Set Up A Post-divorce Budget
After all the stressful legal procedures involved in getting a divorce, figuring out what to do after you get divorced is a task!
You get to live your life on your terms without having to compromise with others. But it also means that the duties and work that were divided between you and your spouse are now all on your head.
Moreover, you have to understand that this major life change will likely lead to a huge decrease in income. So it's important to prepare a budget so as not to be hit by financial difficulties when paying the bills right away.
If you evaluate your budget beforehand, you can have a clear idea of how much money you'd like for your divorce settlement with your ex-spouse, so you know exactly how much money creating your new independent lifestyle will cost.
Conclusion
We understand you have a lot on your plate, which is why lawyers exist. Why are there traffic court attorneys, civil law attorneys, and criminal defense attorneys? They are there for you, so don't be concerned; trust the process.