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Tips for Selecting the Right Divorce Attorney
Once you have come to the realization that your marriage is over, it is important to reach out for support. At first, you can talk to family and close friends to make sure you are making the correct decision. They may even have experience with a divorce of their own and possible a recommendation for attorneys. Then it is time to start thinking about moving on to the next logical step, talking to a divorce attorney. Follow these simple guidelines to make sure you pick the right attorney for you.
First, if you are initiating the divorce, make sure you don't tell your spouse. Letting them know before you file may make the situation more difficult. They may begin draining your joint accounts and also start piling up debt that you could be responsible for.
The second step is to review how you want your divorce to be managed. It is important to identify if your divorce will be amicable or will be messy. Remember this when you start consulting with divorce attorneys as they will be able to tell you about their experiences dealing with similar cases.
Telling Your Children about Divorce
Divorce is a scary and overwhelming matter, one that can be made even more stressful when children are involved. One of the scariest aspects of divorce for parents is breaking the news to the kids about the divorce. While this may seem like an ominous task, there are many helpful tips and guidelines out there to help you give 'the talk' as best as you can.
First and foremost, many children feel that if their parents- who are supposed to love each other no matter what- can stop loving each other, then who's to say they won't stop loving the kids as well? Children often fear that they will lose one of their parents after a divorce or that they will be abandoned altogether; assure them this is not the case. Make sure your children know that you will always be there for them and will never stop loving them.
To give the talk effectively, it's best for you and your spouse to agree on what you're going to say ahead of time. You want to iron out all the details of what will and will not say in front of the kids. It's important that the two of you do not argue or contradict each other when breaking the news. It's best to try and present a united front so that the children see you will both remain a part of their lives. You are still a family, just a different one. However, not all divorces are especially amicable. If you and your spouse must have separate talks with the kids, you should still agree on what you will be telling them. You do not want to send conflicting messages about the divorce.
Things to do before Filing for Divorce
No one is fully prepared for divorce. However, chances are that you will know when a divorce becomes imminent for you and your spouse. There are a few things that you need to do, according to Chicago Now, before you file for divorce or announce your intentions to do so.
'Gather copies of your tax returns for a minimum of three years. You will also want to gather the statements for all of your bank accounts, retirement and brokerage accounts, and IRAs. Having this paperwork on hand will save you money. If you have to have the attorney obtain them, you will have to approximately additional fees.
Order a current copy of your credit report. You need to have all of the information about joint accounts that you have with your spouse. You want all debt to be dealt with during the divorce negotiations so that you are not adversely affected.
How to Prepare Financially for a Divorce
There is a lot to consider if you believe that divorce is the best step for your relationship. It is not a decision to be made rashly or in the heat of the moment. You must consider if that is what you really want and if you can handle the repercussions. After careful consideration, there are other steps to take to prepare yourself.
The first step is to get an accurate picture of your financial future. Pull your credit report from one or all of the credit bureaus. This will offer a snapshot of your unresolved debts, either from your single life or ones that you have taken on during your marriage. Marital debts are treated just like property or assets; they are divided between each spouse depending on their situations. It will also let you know if you can obtain a line of credit if you need to in the future.
Splitting Assets During Divorce
When going through a'divorce, dividing assets is clearly one of the things that's going to be a headache. On top of the emotional and familial fall-out following a marital split, there's the obvious burden of divvying up the life you have built together. While deciding who gets the house, the car, or the vacation cabin may be first on your mind, there's also the issue of dividing up your actual accounts.'According to Wiley Publishers''For Dummies,'one important step if you anticipate a nasty divorce is to first open both a savings and a checking account in your own name'if you don't have one already'and transfer just enough out of your shared account that you'd be able to meet your very basic needs. 'If you haven't informed your spouse of this financial move, after he or she learns about it, expect some fireworks that'll make your'divorce'negotiations more difficult,' warns Dummies.com.
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