Ending a marriage is a very emotional process, and while preparing for a divorce may sound like a selfish task, it will be easier on you both to be prepared. The divorce attorneys at Bandré, Hunt & Snider will be with you every step of the way to offer legal expertise and advice on how to efficiently move through your divorce. Don’t hesitate to give us a call today with any questions you have about this process.
What You Need To Know About Preparing For Divorce
The process of getting a divorce is complex and hard. There are a lot of little things you should think about before even thinking about filing for a divorce, from preparing necessary paperwork to doing a digital audit of yourself. Here at Bandré, Hunt and Snider, we put together some things you should think about before you even file for divorce.
Consult an Attorney
Seeking legal advice is extremely useful during the stage in your divoce process, so visiting with a divorce attorney is in your best interest. An attorney can look at your situation and give you any important information you might need to know before you move forward with filing for divorce. Divoce attorneys can also inform you on issues you might have never considered. These things include health care coverage, retirement accounts or educational expenses.
Doing the research yourself will not cut it. All divorces are unique, so speaking to a legal professional about your specific case can help you be better prepared for what comes next.
Prepare the Necessary Paperwork
Divorce is a document-driven process. Unfortunately, you’ll have to prepare a small mountain of paperwork in order to get through this process. To help your future self from scrambling around and stressing about this last minute, be proactive now about getting together the necessary paperwork for your divorce. You’ll need things like copies of all bank accounts, investments, properties, medical coverage, tax information, marriage certificates, the list goes on and on. It would be a good idea to make copies of everything and keep one collection of papers for yourself and give another file to a trusted friend or family member for safekeeping.
Review your Digital Presence
Your spouse will surely have access to your digital presence including email accounts, social media passwords, shared calendars, PINs, access to other websites, and so much more. Take note of your entire life online, separate accounts where it’s necessary, and most importantly change all of your passwords. It may be smart to get a new email address for your divorce, and make sure you secure your phone with a new pin that your spouse won’t know or set up fingerprint access. Something to remember is that if you and your partner are on the same phone plan, be aware that they can look at your shared account and see the numbers that you have been in contact with. And it’s smart to lower social media usage until after the divorce is final. Social media evidence is regularly used in divorce and custody cases.
Understand Your Finances
It’s very important to take note of your finances before you file for a divorce. You should look at your account information, investments, retirement funds, etc. Once you have an idea of where you stand, think about separating your accounts. After you file for divorce, you’ll need your own checking and savings accounts that are separate from your spouse. If you’re not exactly sure what to do, consider consulting your financial advisor or your divorce attorney.
Make a Financial Plan
Once you’ve taken note of your finances, you need to understand what your finances will look like after the divorce is final. It’s important to sit down and set a budget for yourself. You will need to consider the new expenses that will appear as you take on your divorce. These things include rent, medical coverage, divorce attorney costs, and more. Once you’re aware of everything you have now, you should be mindful of spending and start saving money. Your financial advisor or your divorce attorney will be a useful resource during this next step of analyzing your finances as well.
Prepare your Children
Your divorce doesn’t affect just you and your partner, your kids are brought into this as well. But, there are things you can proactively do to make sure your children are emotionally prepared. The number one thing to be aware of is making sure your kids have a solid support system, this helps kids adjust to the future after the divorce is finalized. Educating yourself and reading up on how to talk to your children about the divorce is very beneficial and it’ll make it easier on them.
Discover your Options
Divorce isn’t a streamlined process, you can get a divorce using mediation, litigation, arbitration, etc. These words may mean nothing to you, which is why we’re here to help and make sure you’re informed about the process of your divorce. Each divorce is a unique process, so it’s important to consult your attorney before moving too far forward. The process you choose can affect relationships, finances, and your kids. Be sure to contact your divorce attorney at every step of the way, to ensure you’ll move through the process with as little trouble as possible.
Contact The Attorneys At Bandré, Hunt & Snider For Divorce Attorneys In Jefferson City, Mo
Getting a divorce can be a long and painful process, but we at Bandré, Hunt & Snider want to be with you every step of the way to make the process as smooth as possible. Our team of attorneys care about our clients’ best interests and aim to provide the best representation for you and your case. Whether it’s divorce or something else, our team has the expertise to handle the case effectively. If you have any questions about preparing for a divorce, don’t hesitate to give us a call l and get the representation that you deserve.