If you’ve decided that 2023 will be the year that you seek a divorce, you could be feeling a lot of different emotions. You might feel relief, grief, anger, sadness, or apathy. There are no wrong emotional responses to divorce, but there are legal responses that aren’t necessarily in your best interest. If you haven’t yet started your search for the right attorney for your divorce, it’s time to talk to the team at Holcomb & Russell about your next steps. Give us a call at 228-206-5843 and we’ll set up a time to talk about your legal options and what comes next.
Think About Timing
You’ll want to think about the timing of when you file and break the news to your family. This is particularly important if you have children, as this announcement could stick with them for years to come. For example, if you announce it shortly before a child’s birthday, they may associate their birthday with your divorce for a long time. Making the announcement right as your children start at a new school could make it even harder for them to acclimate and focus on assimilating. Ideally, you’ll want to file and announce when there is minimal outside stress, as the divorce itself will dominate your life for quite some time.
Set Yourself Up Financially
The time period between announcing a divorce and actually finalizing a divorce can be expensive and financially uncertain, and you want to ensure that you’re able to meet your needs in that transitory period. Note that this does not mean clearing out the marital bank account so that you can take care of yourself. The money you two share is considered marital property and preventing your spouse from accessing it can make you look very, very bad in court.
Not only will you have to pay back whatever you took that actually belongs to your spouse, but the judge may also be incredibly wary of everything else you say in court. You’ll want to make sure you have your own bank account for your paychecks to be deposited into, money to hire a lawyer and pay their retainer, and access to bill accounts. It’s important to keep bills paid while waiting for your divorce, otherwise, you risk wrecking your credit.
Have a Clear Vision of Your Post-Divorce Life
You do not want to go into the divorce process unprepared and wing it. You want to know exactly what you hope to get out of negotiations, what you need to be set up for life after divorce, and any changes you may need to make in your lifestyle or spending habits. Think about where you’ll need to live after divorce, what your budget will look like, if your kids will need to change schools, and if any changes to your work schedule will be necessary.
Get Your Legal Affairs in Order
The legal side of divorce is just as difficult as the emotional side. That’s why you want to entrust this part of your split to an attorney. An attorney will be able to explain your options, help you understand how different choices may impact you, and navigate negotiations with your spouse and their attorney.
Communication can be incredibly tense and challenging during a divorce, and when both sides have their own attorneys, they can limit direct communication and allow the lawyers to handle most of the communication. This can improve your co-parenting relationship, as you’re given the space you need to heal and are less likely to say something inflammatory in the middle of an unnecessary argument.
When you start looking into divorce attorneys, have a list of questions you want to ask. This is an incredibly personal matter, and you want an attorney you can trust completely.
Reach Out to the Team at Holcomb & Russell to Take the Next Step
At Holcomb & Russell, we recognize the importance of handling your divorce in a way that fits your needs and matches the type of co-parenting relationship you may want to have with your spouse long-term. We’re here to help you navigate this process and fight for a fair outcome. Schedule your free consultation now by sending us a message online or calling us at 228-206-5843.
