Divorce is a very trying moment for most people going through it. With our divorce checklist outlining the financial, legal, and other factors involved, we at Affordable Divorce Center help you get ready for a divorce. We can assist you with the legal process and manage your divorce as effectively and amicably as possible.
You probably don’t want to invest a lot of time, money, or energy in getting out of a relationship when you’re ready for a divorce. All you want to know is where to begin and what has to be done.
To guarantee that you get the desired outcome with the least amount of stress, it is prudent to take your time and learn about the potential obstacles and hazards.
Actions to Take Before Filing for Divorce
Even though going through a divorce might be emotionally taxing, there’s no reason to make things worse than they need to be. The following checklist will assist those going through a divorce in taking the actions required to safeguard their rights and encourage effective legal procedures.
1. Speak with an Expert Divorce Attorney
When a couple is done with each other, they want to get on with their lives as soon as possible. In Florida, you can get a divorce without an attorney, but it’s usually a good idea to speak with one. Divorce lawyers can offer advice and counsel regarding your legal rights.
You need to have a valid reason for getting a divorce. The right grounds for divorce can be determined with the assistance of an attorney. To get you started in the proper way, speaking with an attorney will make you feel more informed, secure, and in control of the process.
2. Organize Your Documents
You might save more money after a divorce if you are more efficient. It will cost time and money to organize things if your lawyer receives your records in a disorganized state. Collect and duplicate all of the important documents you can locate.
Seek out these documents:
- Your previous tax returns
- Bank statements
- Credit card statements
- Social Security statements
- Financial statements
- Check registers
- Vehicle titles
- Retirement account statements
- Investment statements
- Life insurance policies
- Employee benefits manuals
- Mortgage documents
- Family trusts
- Stock grants
Getting as much information as you can about your spouse’s business finances is crucial if they work for themselves. Make copies of any important financial documents that are sitting about the house or on your home computer.
3. Choose Your Place of Residence
One partner frequently moves out of the marital residence when considering divorce. If two different households need to be maintained, this may put more financial strain on both spouses.
When going through a divorce, living together because of financial difficulties can be challenging to handle and could make the process more unpleasant. Florida provides some benefits to low-income families in order to assist with the cost of essential living expenditures.
4. Think About Your Children
Pay attention to the kids and how you can minimize the effects of the divorce on their lives. Your children will be balanced and united if you are. Make a plan for how you and the other parent will split up the parenting time. Don’t ask the kids to pick sides or get them involved in the conflict. It is unfair and will cause them to experience emotional distress.
5. Consider the Financial Toll
If you are the spouse who has less access to financial resources, make sure you have enough money saved to cover your expenses for at least three months. When a divorce begins, many husbands turn resentful and may stop providing for you financially. Your lawyers can help you secure financial support, but it will take time.
6. Notify Your Spouse
You must inform your spouse that you are divorcing them and whether you have already filed for divorce after speaking with a local family law company. Both spouses can demonstrate their awareness of the proceedings by filling out and signing a paper. Copies of the court documents may also be served to your spouse.
At this stage, you should decide what kind of divorce you want to go through. Divorce litigation may be the only appropriate course of action if the parties are hostile and it appears that a conflict will be fought. In this case, a judge will make the final decision regarding the terms of the divorce, including asset division, spousal and/or child support, and other issues.
Collaborative mediation may be a time and cost-effective option to pursue if the parties have realistic expectations that the divorce can be resolved amicably and without resentment and conflict. In this process, an outside mediator assists the parties in resolving any and all issues with the specifics of life after marriage.
7. Have a Safety Plan in Case of Domestic Abuse
Understand that leaving your spouse can lead to an increase in violence. However, unless absolutely required, you are not encouraged to petition for a protective order. Some of the most argued cases are those that begin with the application of a protective order barring your spouse from living with your children.
Sometimes, using something as a weapon will end up costing you money. Every choice you make during a divorce will have an impact on your life for years to come, so you should make sure you have the best counsel and representation available.
How to Proceed During the Finalization of the Divorce
Create a detailed separation plan that outlines both couples’ living arrangements and child-rearing strategies until the proceedings are concluded.
Additionally, now is not the right moment to start a new relationship because doing so will simply make the already fragile emotional states of the persons involved worse. The length and amount of alimony may also be impacted by entering into a new relationship before a mediation or judgment has been finalized.
Additionally, if the couple hasn’t already, think about going to counseling to try to resolve the issues and help your kids accept that separation is unavoidable while also safeguarding their feelings and comprehension of the circumstances.
Protecting the children and attempting to dissolve the marriage with decency, composure, and respect are the most crucial aspects of any divorce.
Conclusion
The Law Offices of Affordable Divorce Center has been offering morally sound and successful family law services in Florida for years. Our objective is to provide closure that respects the human aspects of the process while compassionately and effectively meeting your and your family’s needs.
Set up a free consultation to understand your rights and the next course of action necessary for the divorce.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Where can I find out more about mediation and litigation in divorce cases?
You can learn more about divorce mediation and divorce litigation from a variety of resources. You can speak with a financial advisor, mediator, or lawyer. Information is also available in libraries and online articles.
2. Which is better for me, mediation or divorce litigation?
Mediation could be a good choice for you and your spouse if you can communicate well and are prepared to make concessions. However, litigation might be a preferable option if there is a lot of friction or if your divorce involves complicated concerns.
3. How can I become ready to file for divorce?
You’ll normally need to collect the required paperwork, complete the relevant forms, and possibly see a lawyer in order to prepare divorce papers. Financial data, confirmation of residency, and the marriage certificate are important documents. Along with outlining any child custody or property partition agreements, you’ll also need to discuss the grounds for divorce, such as cruelty or adultery.
4. Who suffers the most from divorce?
During and after their parents’ divorce, children and young people frequently have the most emotional and physical challenges.
5. What if a husband doesn’t want to pay alimony?
If alimony has been decreed by a court, a husband cannot just refuse to pay it. Serious legal repercussions, such as property attachment, wage garnishment, and even jail time, may result from nonpayment.
