About To Go Through Divorce Proceedings? Four Things To Do

Has the decision finally been made to end your marriage and get a divorce? If so, there are plenty of things that will need to be done in the near future. The divorce process isn't easy, and it is possible to make mistakes if you are not prepared for what to do. You can have a smooth divorce process if you do these four things:

Understand Your Finances

It is important that you understand your financial situation by meeting with a divorce lawyer. Assets will need to be divided fairly, but a lawyer can't figure out what will be fair unless they know everything. This includes money that you have in savings accounts, investments, real estate, personal property, and anything that has a value to it. Even a spouse owned business could be factored into the divorce.

Watch What You Say

These days, plenty of people turn to social media when it comes to venting and telling people about their divorce. Unfortunately, those same people do not realize that the things they say can be used against them at some point.

For example, you may make a statement that your spouse could use to prove that you would not be a good guardian, giving them custodial rights to your kids. Always remember that what you say could come back to haunt you, even if it is on Twitter.

Get Therapy

Don't underestimate how hard going through a divorce can be and that you need emotional support. Plan to see a therapist, even if you do not feel like you need one right now. Just having somebody that you can work through problems with will help keep you level-headed. Family and friends may be a bit bias in their advice, and it can make those relationships stressful to use them as your personal therapist all the time.

Watch Excessive Spending

Now is not the time to go on a spending spree to use the money you and your spouse saved together. That money will be divided in the divorce, but you cannot spend it frivolously with the knowledge that half of the money will not be yours. There could be consequences to your actions in divorce court, such as losing part of the divorce settlement amount because you spent it early.

This divorce process is complicated, but you don't have to go through it alone. Work with a local divorce lawyer for more assistance. Contact a law office like Roderic H. Slayton, PC for more information and assistance.