What You Should Know Before Filing For Divorce
Getting a divorce isn’t easy for anyone, no matter the circumstances of your divorce. It is common for many people to make important decisions based on their emotions, rather than logic and rationale. And these are decisions that could massively impact your future, as well as the future of your children, if you have any.
So, to make sure you do everything the right way while going through this life-altering experience, here is everything you should know and take care of before filing for divorce:
- Look for a good and qualified divorce attorney
The first step you should take is to look for a qualified and experienced divorce attorney who will understand that you are going through a rough time and has your best interests at heart. Usually, it is better if everything between you and your spouse can be settled without having to go to a Massachusetts court, that is an uncontested divorce.
However, if the need arises, your attorney should be willing to take your case to court and make reasonable arguments to help you get the best out of your divorce. Our divorce attorney at Konstantilakis Law is ready to help you with expertise. - Think about your children’s custody
If you and your spouse have any kids, thinking about their custody should be a priority. Generally, a shared custody is usually the result, unless there are extreme circumstances like child abuse. Make sure that you spare time to sit down and think about what is best for your children.
Try to work out a fair and realistic arrangement based on the schedule of everyone involved – you, your spouse and your kids – keeping the desired type of child custody in mind. If you and your spouse can agree on a fair arrangement without having to go to court, you will save yourself a lot of time and stress later on. - Make sure you have all important documents ready
Before filing for a divorce, you have to make sure that all important documents are readily available, as a divorce case depends greatly on documentation. These may include all kinds of financial account records, vehicle loans, mortgages, and phone records. Make sure that you have as many of these ready before the divorce filed, and remember to make copies of all of them.
IF you and your partner share online accounts, it is recommended that you also get these records. It’s better to have everything ready before filing since some spouses may not react so well once they hear the news. - Know where you stand financially and plan your post-divorce budget
Before you file for divorce, you need to conduct a thorough financial assessment to see where you stand financially. To make sure that you get your fair share and that an equal distribution of debts and marital assets takes place, you have to accurately determine what exactly you owe and what exactly you owe.
Marital assets like financial accounts, vehicles and marital homes should be distributed equally between spouses. You should determine if inheritances, belongings, artworks, etc rightfully belong to you. When it comes to debts, it doesn’t matter whose name it is in. Whoever is more financially stable to pay it off will have to pay it off. - Consult your attorney regarding joint financial and credit accounts
Sometimes, if they do not take it so well, spouses tend to raid joint financial accounts when served divorce papers. If you think such things may happen, you can take preventive measures by transferring half of the fund and transfer it to your own, new account. Make sure to document this thoroughly.
You should also make it a point to pay off your credits and close any joint credit account you may share with your spouse. Make sure that you establish credit under your own name and keep a good credit score.
