In an ideal environment, most people would prefer to physically separate their residences from their spouses as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, things aren’t always so clear-cut in life. While some families can afford to split their finances straight away, others prefer to maintain their family unit as long as feasible. Whatever your motivations, consider these suggestions to help you get the most out of the situation before calling Law Office of Michael L. Fell at 949-585-9055 to speak with a knowledgeable divorce lawyer.
Prepare the budget
Make sure you both understand how financial duties will be divided before anything else. Create a budget that accounts for all of your shared living costs, and then decide how you’ll pay it. Who will, for instance, pay the insurance? Who will pay the utility bills? Will they split them all up? To pay these bills, you might choose to open a joint account, or you might prefer to go about it in a completely different method. There is no right or incorrect response; the important thing is to be sure that everyone is on the same page.
Prepare for custody battles
At Law Office of Michael L. Fell, we frequently observe that parents assume that if they don’t move into their own houses right away, living together will, at least temporarily, prevent child custody disputes. Sadly, that isn’t the case. You can prepare for this inevitable situation in a variety of ways, including by establishing specific times when each of you will be in charge.
Work on a parenting strategy that will be effective in the long run during this period. Without having to go to court, you’ll probably have a much better experience if you can agree on a custody arrangement. Parenting and sharing a home together while going through a divorce might shed light on your strengths and challenges when the divorce is finalized.
Make certain that the boundaries are very clear
In this situation, nothing should be taken for granted. Make sure that you are both aware of and willing to respect each other’s boundaries. Decide which room each of you will occupy first. Decide whether shared spaces will be used jointly, alone by one person, or simply by one person during specific hours.
Next, decide how the tasks will be distributed. Who will clean the clothes? The dishes? Who will do the gardening? This can be spelled out in detail and in writing to assist avoid problems in the future. Discuss who is permitted in the house as well. Can one of you invite their new romantic interest over to the house, for instance, if you both start dating? You may think the solution is apparent, but you’d better make sure you and your partner are both aware of it.
Contact a qualified attorney for assistance with all divorce-related matters
At Law Office of Michael L. Fell, we take pride in helping clients with all levels of divorce-related difficulties, from filing through asset division to divorce modification. Call us at 949-585-9055 right away to find out how we can assist.