At one point in your life, you may come to the conclusion that a divorce is right for you and your family. To ensure you are well prepared and allow the process of ending your marriage to go as smoothly as possible, be sure to keep this pre-divorce checklist in mind.

1. Reach Out to a Divorce Lawyer

It is smart to speak to a divorce lawyer once you have come to the final decision that you are getting divorced. They can provide you with information on what to do and what to avoid before you start filing paperwork.

Divorce is a major life decision that can change your life forever. Before initiating the divorce process, you should make sure you are getting divorced for the right reasons. Below is a list of questions you should ask yourself when considering divorce. By answering these questions, you can determine whether or not a divorce makes sense for your particular situation.

1. Do you have feelings for your spouse?

Ask yourself if you have feelings for your spouse. You may find that you still have feelings of love and affection but are simply angry at them for a particular reason. Since you want to avoid making a mistake, it is a good idea to seek couples therapy if there is any love left.

If you are divorced with children, you will likely need to attend special occasions that your ex will be at. Whether the occasion is your child’s birthday party, religious ceremony, graduation, or another event, you may be nervous about being in the same room with your ex-spouse. Here are some tips that can help you make the best out of attending special occasions with your ex.

1. Realize It Is Not All About You

Your child will be excited about their party, communion, Bar or Bat Mitzvah, or other special event. Understand that the event is about them and not you or your ex-spouse. Make a conscious effort to avoid overshadowing their day with your own anxiety. You are attending the event because you are the child’s parent and want to be there for them during their milestones.

Approximately 169 million Americans pay Social Security taxes and 61 million collect benefits to support themselves and their families. If you are going through a divorce, you may be concerned about your financial future and wondering what will happen to your Social Security benefits. Keep reading to find out.

Can Ex-Spouses Receive Social Security?

Contrary to popular belief, your ex-spouse does have the right to receive Social Security benefits as long as the following requirements are met:

To ensure a favorable outcome for your divorce case, it is essential to perform some research and find the right divorce attorney to represent you. Prior to hiring legal representation, it is a good idea to go through several divorce consultations. Once you have scheduled your consultations, come prepared to them by bringing the following items:

 1. A Question List

During a divorce consultation, your goal should be to determine whether a lawyer is right for you. In order to do this, come up with a list of questions that will help you gain an understanding of each lawyer’s experience, fee structure, and insight on your situation. You can write your questions down in a notebook or in your smartphone.