In this day and age, many marriages succumb to divorce. There are many reasons why divorces do not work out, but a spouse must stay level headed during the process. A spouse may feel that they have been cheated in the marriage, but there is no reason to retaliate during this time. There are a few points that a spouse should do prior to the your divorce reaching the courts.
Don’t abandoned your home. Doing so, looks careless on your part. The judge may see this act as if you are throwing in the white towel. Stay in your home and stay on course with your divorce. This may be difficult considering the time, but will look much worse if you are irresponsible and leave your home.
Do not have a confrontation with your spouse. Whether it’s physical or verbal, your spouse will be on their toes and document any conflict that arises at this time. Conflicts can only induce your spouse to fight harder for what they want out of the divorce, whether that’s more money, alimony, child support, or other conditions after the judgment.
Be sure to copy all your financial documents for the divorce and your attorney. This includes bills, retirement accounts, savings accounts, etc. Having these documents will be harder for your spouse to hide any funds that weren’t accounted for. A judge will make many decisions during the divorce, be sure that all the finances are accounted for. If you’re nervous that your spouse will try to hide things, video tape all your possessions. This will confirm any disagreements that may arise later on.
If you have any guns or weapons in your home, remove them. These are not only dangerous, but your spouse could use them against you. Take all weapons and give them to a friend or family member. During a divorce, a spouse could make up stories about the weapons and use it against you in court. Take them out and eliminate any chance of something bad happening.
Divorce is hard on the whole family, not just yourself. If you have any children, the separation will also take a toll on them. This would be a perfect time to get your family some counseling. Counseling will allow emotions to be expressed. Therapeutic counseling will allow you to determine what your problems are and how to solve them.
Hire an attorney to help you with your divorce. Be sure to hire an attorney that is well versed in family law. Many lawyers practice in many areas, but do your research and find one that has extensive experience with divorce law. Don’t hire a friend as your attorney, because if things do not work out, it may terminate your friendship. Having an attorney that practices in your jurisdiction is critical to your case. if you hire a lawyer outside your jurisdiction, there may be a lot of unintended traveling costs. Attorneys that work in your jurisdiction will know the county clerk, judge and other lawyers in the area. This will allow for easier predictions and expectations concluding your divorce.
Having goals set between you and your divorce attorney will need to be done early on. Setting primary and secondary goals will help you reach your expectations easier. This will also give your attorney a better picture of want you want to accomplish through this process. Working as a team will build camaraderie and rapport between you and your attorney. If you and your lawyer aren’t on the same page, it just won’t work.
Divorces will take a lot of mental preparation and commitment. Having an attorney that understands family law in your area will help out immensely. Don’t make any poor choices when coping with your divorce. You, your spouse and children should all get professional counseling to assist with the process. Make sure that you document all assets and debts so nothing can be hidden. Conflicts are easy to come by during a divorce, but stay strong and keep a level head during the turmoil.