If you are considering divorce, there are a few things you must consider completing before heading to court to file. Performing these tasks before initiating allows you to be better prepared and more confident throughout the process. Not only that, but your advanced preparation will shorten the overall divorce proceedings, lessening stress for you and your family. Consider these behaviors:
It is ill-advised to send divorce papers if you do not know for sure you want a divorce. Once you address those documents, it becomes difficult to reconcile a relationship after, even if you change your mind. Be sure to exhaust every other avenue before taking that leap.
Except under extreme situations, you and your spouse are likely to split custody. Sit down and review work schedule, school schedule, and other obligations and create an arrangement that you would like. If you build one that also allows for time for your ex to spend with the children, they are more likely to agree to the terms.
Your financial documents are essential to your divorce case. All decisions revolve around this information, so gather it all and do not leave anything out. If accounts are found later that were an attempt to hide money, the penalties will be harsh. Gather these documents before you file for divorce, because obtaining this information afterward may be difficult.
You will need to take a good look at your finances and what you can expect post-divorce. Have a plan before you begin the process. Will you be able to survive without your spouse, or will you need spousal maintenance? How is your credit? If your credit is less than perfect, it is a good idea to make necessary repairs now.
For the financial protection of everyone, judges typically issue a stay on the finances, meaning, they release an order preventing either spouse from making any sales or purchases during the divorce. This order prevents one spouse from depleting the account out of hostility. If you need to upgrade your car to have something reliable, do so before the divorce. Avoid spending unnecessarily because that can hurt your case.
While you have time, it is essential to find the right DuPage County divorce attorney for you. At the Law Office of Martoccio & Martoccio, we understand you have a choice of attorneys, and we will work hard to serve you. With over 35 years of experience, we have a reputation of offering compassionate representation to our clients from the consult all the way through. Call us today to schedule your free initial consultation at 630-920-8855.
Sources:
https://www.liveabout.com/questions-you-should-answer-if-you-are-considering-divorce-1102953
https://www.today.com/health/divorce-10-things-i-wish-id-known-2D80445585