Every couple will have disagreements in their marriage, but sometimes the issues are so serious the threat of divorce becomes a real possibility. It is important for all couples to recognize the warning signs that their marriage may be headed for divorce. It is just as critical that if you notice any of these five warning signs, you also know how to protect yourself.

The Five Warnings Signs of Divorce

 One argument is not enough to indicate that your marriage may be headed for divorce. Even if the issues between you and your spouse are serious enough to require marriage counseling, as long as the two of you are both willing to work on the problems, divorce may not be imminent. However, there are certain warning signs you should look for to determine if you may be headed for divorce. The five most common are as follows:

• You have stopped communicating: The only way to resolve marital problems is to talk about them. If you and your spouse have stopped communicating, particularly about the issues you face, you may be headed for divorce.
• You spend a lot of time alone: Being together is key for a healthy marriage. If you and your spouse have started spending a lot of time apart, you may not have a chance to rebuild your marriage.
• You do not share the same goals: Couples in healthy relationships typically work towards a common goal. If you do not want the same things in life, it could be a warning sign of divorce.
• There is no intimacy: Sexual relations are important in a marriage. Even when there are issues surrounding this, couples should still share intimate moments by holding hands, snuggling, and kissing each other.
• There is no trust: A lack of trust is extremely detrimental to a marriage and is not usually easy to get back.

If you notice any of these warning signs, it is essential that you know how to protect yourself.

Spouses often know that their marriage is crumbling and that they are likely headed for divorce. When this is the case, you may wonder whether you should file for divorce first and if there are any advantages in doing so. The family courts will not take into consideration which spouse filed first when making decisions on child custody, property division, and more. However, there are some advantages you will gain if you are the first to file.

Retain Control

During a divorce, there is so much that is outside of a person’s control. By filing first, you take some of that control back. You can make arguments within the complaint about any wrongdoing done by your spouse, which leaves them with the responsibility of responding to those arguments. You can also choose which jurisdiction to file in, which is particularly advantageous if your spouse lives far away at the time of filing.

Preparation Is Easier

When filing for divorce first, it provides you with the necessary time to prepare, which can give you a financial advantage. Preparing for divorce involves collecting important financial documents, such as life insurance policies, banking accounts, titles to property, and more.

Everyone wishes divorce could go smoother and without the headaches and expenses that so often come with the territory. For most, however, the process simply is unpleasant. Nevertheless, there are a number of things that divorcing couples can do well in advance of court to ensure the best chance of a quick and relatively smooth transition. One of the first steps should always be to schedule an appointment with a local Hinsdale family law attorney to weigh your options and get early advice. Beyond that, here are four tips for planning a successful divorce.

#1 Gather Your Paperwork

Long before either party files a petition for dissolution of marriage and far prior to any court hearing, you should consider how difficult it may be later to obtain copies of things like:

• Your spouse’s paystubs
• Your spouse’s bank statements
• Investment documents
• Retirement statements
• Printouts showing the value of assets

Once a couple is in the midst of a divorce, it can be tempting to not share private information, especially finances. This later leads to complicated discovery – the process through which attorneys obtain this information from each side. This is often the most expensive and challenging part of the case. So, the best way to avoid this is to gather the documents while you are still on speaking terms and long before the divorce has begun.

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:

Be Sure You Want Divorce

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.

Decide Your Parenting Time Goals

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.

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.