Are You Considering Divorce? Read These Five Pieces of Advice First
Posted on: January 10, 2022
There is no avoiding the fact that divorce is unpleasant for all parties involved. Even if both couples agree that it is time to split ways, their lives are turned upside down, and it is difficult to have a level head. Continue reading to learn everything you can about the divorce process with our top five pieces of advice. Then call (949) 585-9055 to talk with an expert family law attorney at Law Office of Michael L. Fell.
Always be prepared for a fight
Even if you and your soon-to-be ex agree that divorce is necessary and feel you are on the same page, you can expect a fight. You may have the best of intentions at first, but when it comes to deciding on custody, property division, spousal support, and other potentially contentious topics, a fight may arise out of nowhere.
Before filing for divorce, consult with an attorney
You may be tempted to file for divorce right immediately if you have had a major disagreement with your husband and have decided that it is finally time. This is something we highly advise you not to do. Consult a divorce attorney. We’ll go through your choices with you, answer any questions you have, and make sure you have all of your ducks in a row before making this decision.
Consider the timing
It’s easy to make reasons for delaying your divorce, but there are a number of scenarios when filing sooner rather than later is preferable. If you are due a bonus or a significant rise, for example, you may want to consider filing before it arrives. If you’re thinking about divorce as your marriage approaches ten years, it might be wise to wait until you reach that milestone. Why? Because you’ll have greater Social Security income and spousal support may be needed for a longer period of time.
Examine the vulnerabilities
Try to address any weaknesses before proceeding to the next step of filing for divorce. Make sure your name is on all bank accounts, investments, deeds of trust, utilities, and other key papers, for example. Make sure that any joint accounts need signatures from both parties. It will be considerably more difficult for your spouse to withdraw cash from your account as a result of this.
Protect your credit by doing the following steps
You’ll need money to start over after a divorce, whether it’s to locate a new house, buy a new automobile, or anything else. Do not sign anything with your spouse as a co-signer. Remove your spouse from any shared credit cards you may have and pay them off or shut them. Even if the court orders your spouse to pay a debt during the divorce, your creditor can still hold you liable if they choose not to.
If you need legal advice, please contact Law Office of Michael L. Fell at (949) 585-9055 and request a free legal consultation.
