You don't plan to get a divorce when you're married. For this reason, many people are caught off guard upon finding out that their spouse wants a separation. The unexpected nature of the divorce decision can lead to tension in the relationship. Which leads to a difficult and expensive divorce. While it's difficult to be fully prepared for divorce, there are steps you can take to help yourself financially throughout the process.
Hire a Divorce Attorney
Your first step should be to look for and locate a divorce lawyer or family attorney who can meet your specific needs. Prices for divorce lawyers vary wildly, so you'll want to make sure you find an affordable lawyer who doesn't compromise on quality. This can be difficult and take some time, but it's worth it in the long run when it comes to setting yourself up for divorce success.
Mitigate the Discovery Phase
You'll want to have your attorney give you a list of the documents that you need to gather, and then you can save money by rounding them up on your own time. If it is something that you can do, you are basically saving their rate per hour for all of the time that you spend hunting down documents and getting copies.
It's important to establish expectations when looking for a divorce attorney and for you to work closely alongside your counsel to formulate a strategy that works in your best interests.
Know Where You Stand Financially
Before you go through the divorce process, you'll need to clearly document your financial standing. This is going to include what you make and what assets you own, and you'll also need tax returns for the last three years and recent pay stubs. This will all help to paint a financial picture that will make it clear what you are entitled to and what your significant other is entitled to as you separate. It's obviously not a pleasant process, but it is important that you follow the advice of your attorney and try to handle the situation logically and rationally so that you suffer as little financial penalty as possible.
Hire a Divorce Attorney
Your first step should be to look for and locate a divorce lawyer or family attorney who can meet your specific needs. Prices for divorce lawyers vary wildly, so you'll want to make sure you find an affordable lawyer who doesn't compromise on quality. This can be difficult and take some time, but it's worth it in the long run when it comes to setting yourself up for divorce success.
Mitigate the Discovery Phase
You'll want to have your attorney give you a list of the documents that you need to gather, and then you can save money by rounding them up on your own time. If it is something that you can do, you are basically saving their rate per hour for all of the time that you spend hunting down documents and getting copies.
It's important to establish expectations when looking for a divorce attorney and for you to work closely alongside your counsel to formulate a strategy that works in your best interests.
Know Where You Stand Financially
Before you go through the divorce process, you'll need to clearly document your financial standing. This is going to include what you make and what assets you own, and you'll also need tax returns for the last three years and recent pay stubs. This will all help to paint a financial picture that will make it clear what you are entitled to and what your significant other is entitled to as you separate. It's obviously not a pleasant process, but it is important that you follow the advice of your attorney and try to handle the situation logically and rationally so that you suffer as little financial penalty as possible.
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