Marriage is never easy. That being said, many couples reach a point in time where they truly believe that they have exhausted all resources and are left with an incredibly tough decision – should they remain in an unhappy marriage or should they file for divorce? Here are four things you should do if you are considering filing for divorce.
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Calculate the Value of Your Assets
During a divorce, assets obtained during your marriage will be divided between you and your partner. Identify any shared assets, as well as any shared debts obtained during your marriage. The distribution of marital assets may depend upon your knowledge of the assets you and your spouse have, as in some cases, property may go missing during the divorce. You do not want this to happen to you.
List Your Priorities
If you go into the divorce knowing what is most important to you, it can make the process run more smoothly. Do you want to keep the house? What type of custody arrangement do you think would be best for the kids? Having an idea of what you hope to accomplish can help you focus on your end goals.
Don’t Rush the Process
Deciding whether or not to file for divorce can be a difficult to decision, and the heavy emotional burden that comes with it can cause you to think irrationally. Rushing the process and allowing your emotions to guide your decision-making can be a costly mistake. Divorce is painful, there is no denying that; but it won’t go on forever. Don’t further complicate an already difficult time by trying to expedite the process.
Seek Legal Counsel
For many couples, when the decision to file for divorce has been made, they are in such a rush to get through the process that they forgo legal representation. Don’t make this mistake. Even if you haven’t yet made up your mind regarding whether or not you are going to get a divorce, scheduling a consultation with an experienced divorce attorney can give you an idea of what you could expect to walk away with, and what you could expect to lose.
It is never wise to go into the divorce process blind, with little to no idea of how you will stand financially after the divorce is finalized. If you are contemplating filing for divorce, it is important to contact an experienced divorce attorney who can help you navigate your way through this difficult time.
