How Pre-divorce Guidance Can Help You

If you are thinking about getting a divorce, choosing to get pre-divorce guidance could save you a lot of time, money, and emotional distress. By making decisions before the process begins, you may be able to avoid a complicated, costly, and/or messy divorce.

What is Pre-Divorce Guidance?

By obtaining pre-divorce guidance, you will be able to ask any questions, define your goals during and after the divorce, gather valuable information, and understand your rights and duties during the process.

During the pre-divorce guidance process, you will work closely with your family law attorney to properly prepare for your divorce and get the advice you need from experts in their field so you can make informed decisions.

How Does Pre-Divorce Guidance Benefit Me?

During pre-divorce guidance, you can receive assistance on such things as:

• Clarifying Your Goals:  You can decide what kind of relationship you would like to have with your ex during and after you get divorced.
• Understanding Your Rights: By understanding your spouse’s and your legal rights and obligations, you can make the process of divorce smoother and more efficient.
• Learning About the Divorce Process: There are a few ways you can go into an uncontested divorce such as through mediation or by collaborating with your spouse to come up with a divorce plan that works for both of you.
• Knowing Your Options: There will be assets and liabilities that need to be divided between you and your spouse that fits your individual and family situation. Your spouse should also retain their own attorney and go through the pre-divorce guidance process as well so you both can have a non-adversarial divorce.
• Seeking Out Other Advisors: As divorce attorneys, we have access to financial advisors, family therapists, and other advisors that can help you make the best decisions possible before you get divorced.
• Organizing Your Paperwork: You should obtain and prepare all of the necessary financial paperwork organized and at the ready before you file for divorce. This means making copies of any deeds, insurance policies, car titles, bank accounts, and other financial accounts.  You should also have copies of any paperwork that pertains to retirement accounts, investments, credit cards, automobile loans, etc. You should have both physical and digital copies available to you when you need them.

What About the Children in a Pre-Divorce Guidance Plan?

During your pre-divorce guidance, it’s important that you think about your children when coming up with a plan. You and your spouse should come up with a parenting plan that works for you, your spouse—and most importantly—your children.

It’s not likely that you and your spouse will get everything you both want when it comes to a parenting plan for your children, but with pre-divorce guidance, you will understand your rights and obligations you and your spouse have toward your children.

You and your spouse are going to have to put any petty differences aside and communicate effectively and respectfully to create a parenting plan. Remember, your kids are going through a difficult time as well, so don’t hesitate to make a family or child therapist part of your pre-divorce guidance plan.

The key to creating a successful parenting plan is to avoid creating situations where you and your spouse are both fighting over custody of your children. This is destructive behavior for you and your children.

Conclusion

During pre-divorce guidance, you will learn how to approach the decisions you may have to make in a calmer, more rational manner and with less animosity toward each other. This makes the divorce run smoother and is less emotionally stressful for you, your spouse, and your children.

You and your family will be able to move on after the divorce and begin the transition to your new lives.

If you are considering divorce and are unsure what your next step should be, contact us to learn how pre-divorce guidance can give you clarity and peace of mind on the way forward.