When you have decided to file for a divorce or if you find out that your spouse has filed for one, you should prepare yourself for the things that will follow. You should also take note of the things that you have to do in order for the process to go as smoothly as it can. Hiring a family law attorney can straighten out the process for you, but you should still take note of the 13 important things below.
- Consider what approach you’re going to take
Discuss with your divorce mediation lawyer what approach you are going to take when you file your divorce. Are you sure about your decision? Your lawyer or any other expert that can provide you with a knowledge input may be able to convince you with a different option.
- Decide for everyone else involved
Planning for everyone else who will be directly impacted when you file for your divorce is a responsible thing to do. If you have children or pets, find out where they can live which both parties can agree upon. Those that had to depend on you being together with your spouse for their safety and sustenance should be taken care of even when the divorce is going on.
- Hire a competent family law attorney
- Keep a journal of what’s happened so far
- Prepare written statements for anything that you have to directly address
- Don’t badmouth your spouse in front of anybody
Badmouthing your spouse in front of people, especially your children, can lead to complications during the divorce process. It is also not a good idea to do it because there are a lot of cases of children resenting their parent for badmouthing the other parent when they were going through a divorce.
- Be realistic with your budget
- Learn what goes on in a divorce process
Informing yourself with various resources regarding the process of getting a divorce can help smoothen the entire experience for you. You won’t have to worry about stepping out of bounds because you know the limits and what you should do.
- Focus on the end goal
- Keep emotions out of the picture
- Get support from people close to you
The people close to you will be able to provide you with the support that you need as you go through a tough time in your life. If you can’t find people that can provide you with support because most of them have to stay neutral because they’re also friends of your spouse, consider being a part of a new community.
- Do not start a new relationship
Unless the reason for your divorce is because of you being involved in a new relationship, you should ensure that you stay single for the entire duration of the divorce process.
- Find a different way to get your mail
When filing for a divorce, you should consider getting a post office box. You are going to get a lot of documents mailed to you so there should be a way for you to discretely receive them.
If you need a family law attorney or a divorce mediation lawyer, contact The Law Offices of Michael P. Doman today.