It’s not every day that you decide to end your marriage. It’s a big, life-changing event, and it can be hard to know where to start or what to do first.
But there are things you can do to make this difficult time easier for yourself and your family. You must take care of yourself by making sure you’re protected financially and legally. Here are six steps that will help you get started with the divorce process.
Obtain Legal Advice From An Attorney
It’s important to consult an attorney that specializes in family law. You may want to ask friends, family members, or co-workers for referrals at work. A simple online search can also provide recommendations for local attorneys in your area.
Law firms like drfamilylaw.com can help you find a qualified lawyer who can help you make decisions and offer advice along the way. It’s important to get the advice of an attorney before exploring your divorce options because there are various types of legal proceedings you may have to go through and a professional will be able to guide you accordingly.
Understand The Different Forms Of Divorce
Divorce can be confusing because there are so many options available for people in different situations. Try to understand the differences between types of actions like dissolution, legal separation, or annulment.
Talk to your spouse about the divorce. If you don’t want conflict, it’s best to approach this topic diplomatically and in person if possible. If you feel as if your spouse is being unreasonable, you must avoid an argument.
If you feel that your spouse is being unreasonable and will not cooperate with the divorce process, you may want to consider going through a contested divorce. In this situation, you’ll have to attend court hearings in front of a judge, who will decide based on the information given during these hearings.
Consider All Of Your Financial Options
There are many decisions to be made when it comes to dividing finances during the divorce proceedings.
Divorce attorneys can help you make these difficult decisions, work with you on a fair settlement decree, and protect your assets.
In most situations, the division of property will follow similar rules as regular civil actions. However, several differences are unique to divorce proceedings.
Understand What Is Happening And When
Take time to understand the process of your legal action. From start to finish, it may take several months for your divorce case to be resolved, so don’t be discouraged if things don’t happen as fast as you would like.
For example, once your action is filed, you must take several steps before appearing in court. This process starts with a mandatory settlement meeting and may also involve mediation with your spouse.
It’s important to understand the process and how it will affect you. Working closely with your lawyer can help make sure that you don’t miss anything important.
Understand the court process
There are many steps involved in a divorce proceeding, so it’s important to understand how things will unfold. There may be delays or changes that must be made, so make sure you’re prepared for anything.
The first step is the completion of mandatory settlement conference(s). Next up is mediation with your spouse, and then it’s on to the mandatory settlement meeting. A judge will review your case, and if necessary, a divorce trial can be held. This is where your case will be discussed in front of a judge who will make a decision based on the evidence presented during the hearing.
During this process, you may also want to file for child custody, spousal support, and property division. If your case is contested, you will likely have to attend several hearings during the process, but if it’s not contested, there may only be one hearing.
Make Sure Both Spouses Have Copies Of Important Documents
Some documents that may need to be filed with the court are birth certificates, social security cards, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees. If you don’t have copies of these documents or if they’re not up-to-date, this could cause delays in your case.
It’s important to keep copies of all your financial records from the time you were married. This is because you may need these records later to provide evidence of your earnings and debts.
A lawyer can help you keep track of all the paperwork involved with the case, but it’s still important for you and your spouse to be fully aware of what is going on in court.
Take Care Of Yourself
Divorce can be difficult and stressful, so you must make time to focus on yourself. This includes taking care of your physical and emotional health, as well as spending time with friends or family members who may support you throughout this transition.
In many cases, you may feel like you’ve been put in a difficult situation and are not the one to blame for the divorce. Do your best to remain calm because getting upset will make this process more difficult for you.
Final Thoughts
The divorce process can be emotionally draining and take up a lot of your time. Taking time to prepare for this transition is essential to ensuring that your legal action is handled properly.
This means finding a great lawyer who will work with you on all of your concerns. Once you have a lawyer you can trust, it’s important to work closely with them and make sure that all the paperwork is in order. This will help you move forward as quickly and smoothly as possible.
