The time has come to end your marriage. Now, you may find yourself having dozens of thoughts running through your mind on an endless loop. You may question how your relationship got to this point, what will happen to the kids, how will you handle your finances and numerous other aspects of your life that now seem uncertain. Though you may want to dwell on these uncertainties, it may do you more good to remain proactive.
As you get your affairs in order to begin the divorce process, you may want to remember that your proceedings do not have to involve conflict and confusion at every turn. You could take the time to make preparations and feel confident as you move through the marriage dissolution process.
Check your actions
Though ending your marriage may mark a time in your life of considerable upheaval, you should not think of it as an excuse to let yourself go off the rails. In fact, remaining on your best behavior may prove more important now than ever. If you end up in questionable situations during your divorce, any evidence of those scenarios could impact certain aspects of your case. For instance, if you have some late nights while having drinks with friends, photos from your outings may play against you during custody proceedings.
Inventory your assets
A major step that could help you prepare for your property division proceedings in particular relates to knowing your assets. By having records relating to your income, taxes, retirement accounts and other financial documents, you may have a better idea of the money involved in the case. Additionally, having an inventory of your assets and debts could also allow you determine what items may fall into the categories of marital property and separate property.
Keep kids a priority
Your emotions may be reeling during this time of change, but you may want to remember that your children’s feelings are undoubtedly on edge as well. Because divorce can have significant impacts, keeping your children a priority could help you ensure that they do not suffer unnecessarily during this transitional period. Furthermore, keeping their best interests in mind may help you make difficult custody decisions.
Consider specific needs
Because your divorce case will differ from anyone else’s, you may need to take specific steps to prepare for your case. In order to determine what actions may most benefit you, you may wish to find out more information on the legal proceedings ahead and understand how your personal circumstances could affect the process.
