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.

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.