5 Things You Should Know About Divorce

You didn’t enter your marriage planning to get divorced. Now that divorce looms in your future, you find yourself without the knowledge you need. Feeling overwhelmed and confused makes this tough time in your life all the more difficult. There’s more to filing for divorce than simply submitting your complaint to the court. The expert Covington divorce lawyers at Ellen Cronin Badeaux are here to help! Before you move forward, here is what you need to know:

#1 Don’t move forward until you’re absolutely sure. Right now, emotions are running high. The decision to file for divorce is a legal move you should not make based on emotions alone. Make sure you’ve exhausted all hope of reconciliation before you contact Covington divorce lawyers to file the paperwork. Once you’ve served your spouse with divorce papers, it will be nearly impossible to go back on that decision, even if you eventually change your mind.

#2 Gather and keep safe all of your financial documents. Divorce cases depend heavily on documentation. You are splitting up one household into two. Any financial account records, phone records, mortgages, stock certificates, ease agreements, credit card debt, student loans, wills, and car notes are all going to be relevant to your divorce. Your chosen Covington divorce lawyers will discuss the specifics of your case with you and which paperwork you need to gather.

#3 Determine your goals. You need something more concrete than to simply “not be married anymore.” What do you hope to walk away from your marriage with? For many families, child custody is a big part of this. Other than in extreme circumstances, you and your ex-spouse will end up sharing custody of the children. Do you want a 50/50 split, or something more like 70/30? What would you like to happen to your joint finances? Who should keep the house?

#4 Make any necessary financial moves before filing. If you’ve been meaning to buy a new car, liquidate some stock, or sell a rental property, do it now. You’ll be prevented from doing so once you officially file for divorce first. This means you’ll need to make any big financial moves before the case begins. Courts do this to prevent either spouse from draining the bank accounts or dissipating the marital estate out of spite for the other one.

#5 Remember that you’re not single- yet! You know that your marriage is for all intents and purposes over, but legally it is not the case. Your attorney will tell you to refrain from “living the single life” prior to actually being divorced. In many jurisdictions, even if you and your spouse are living separately, having a romantic relationship with another person is still considered adultery. You don’t want this brought up in court as you fight for custody of your children and the finances you deserve.

Following these tips will help you achieve a better outcome in your divorce case. With any additional questions or concerns, we encourage you to contact our team of Covington divorce lawyers. Your first consultation with our attorneys is free!