Preparing for Divorce
You’re Getting a Divorce. Now What?
While typically associated with anxiety, anger, and conflict, the ending of a marriage doesn’t have to be that way. By taking time for yourself and understanding all options, you can find a balanced approach to this life-changing transition and constructively restructure your family and finances.
Resolve to Take Care of Yourself
Give yourself time and patience with your feelings. Focus on staying healthy-including rest and exercise. You will get through this!
Learn About Your Process Options
Mediation? Collaborative? Consulting lawyer? Traditional lawyers? Court or no-court? You need to understand all of your options to make an informed choice. The process you choose will have a profound impact on cost and outcome.
Put Together Your Personal and Professional Support Team
You will get a lot of divorce advice, and you need to choose carefully what is helpful and healthy for you. This includes your personal circle of family and friends as well as online input. Be sure to consult with a lawyer (individually or joint education with a mediator) to understand the legal issues and process needed to navigate your divorce. A personal therapist, financial advisor, realtor or estate planner, and child or financial specialist may be helpful once you choose a legal process.
Communicate With Your Spouse
If it is safe, talking with your spouse about process options can help reduce conflict and cost—especially if you jointly choose mediation or a collaborative process. Making decisions together, with professional help, can support each of your ultimate goals for restructuring your family and finances.
Get Educated
As you divorce, you will need to make financial and parenting decisions that will impact you for a lifetime. Even if you did not manage the finances, you will need to each do a detailed legally-required financial disclosure and understand living expenses, income/cashflow, and assets/debts in order to discuss the legal issues of child support, spousal maintenance, and property division needed for your final resolution, such as options for the home. If you have children, a child specialist can help you create a family plan that supports your children’s well-being.
Focus on the Future
What are your goals for the divorce process and beyond? Avoid using the legal process to argue fault or revenge. Consider what you want your life to look like in years to come. Make decisions that will support your personal well-being, family health, and financial security. Working with a lawyer who utilizes a problem-solving approach will help assure you make well-informed decisions. Contact us at the outset to understand your options and make the best choices possible for you and your family.
Schedule Your Free Phone Consultation Today
To schedule a consultation or to receive more information about our services, please call us at (414) 273-2422 or fill out the form below and a member of our staff will contact you. All inquiries are confidential and you will receive a prompt response.