Tips on How to Have A Successful Divorce

Family Legal Services in York

If you are going through a divorce, read this article to learn tips for a successful divorce, as well as how to find the best family legal services.

Keyword(s): family legal services

Divorce rates may be on the decline, but the average marriage still only has a 50% chance of success.

Are you and your spouse considering a divorce? Has one of you already filed?

In either case, you likely have a lot of questions about the divorce process. How long will it take? How much will it cost? What should you do (and not do) to prepare?

You may find it helpful to seek family legal services from a qualified divorce lawyer.

In the meantime, though, here are some helpful tips to help you through the early stages of your divorce.

Know All Your Assets and Debts

There’s no room for guesswork during a divorce.

The most important piece of advice that family legal services will tell you is to know everything about your financial situation. There should be nothing about your debts or assets that you don’t know.

Take whatever steps are necessary to access the following information:

• Personal bank statements
• Investment statements
• Credit card statements
• Year-end financial documents
• W2s and/or 1099s
• 401(k)
• Individual Retirement Account (IRA)
• Pension

It’s also a good idea to run a credit check and both you and your spouse, to ensure you didn’t miss anything. This is especially vital if you feel your spouse may have been dishonest.

Keep Nonmarital Assets Separate

What about assets that you feel belong to you alone? In most cases, these should not be divided or available for distribution.

A few examples of nonmarital assets include:

• Inherited property
• Items or property owned before the marriage
• Gifts given specifically to you
• Payments for personal injury

Not sure whether some of your assets qualify? Family legal services will be able to answer these important questions for you.

Be on Your Best Behavior

A divorce is one of the most stressful life events anyone can go through. It tends to bring out the worst in people–especially if it’s a messy divorce.

If you and your spouse are fighting over assets or child custody, be sure that the judge will scrutinize everything you do. This is not the time to go off the deep end.

Control yourself in social settings and in private. Avoid overdrinking, drug use, and other questionable behaviors. You may also choose to put your love life on hold until proceedings have passed.

Another tip? Be careful what you post on social media or send in emails. Anything malicious you say about your soon-to-be-ex may come back to haunt you in court.

Make Your Kids a Priority

All too often, children are the innocent victims of a failed marriage. While you undoubtedly have your own issues and concerns, don’t forget about your kids’ welfare.

Make a list of visitation options and, if possible, discuss them amicably with your spouse. Your goal should be to provide your kids with as much stability as possible during and after the divorce.

You should also know all the important details of your children’s lives. Who are their doctors, teachers, and friends? What after-school activities are they involved with?

If you don’t know, now is the time to find out.

How a Divorce Attorney Can Help

Because there are so many important factors to consider, family legal services can be an invaluable aid during a divorce.

Here are four reasons you should seek the assistance of an attorney.

1. Familiarity with Divorce Law

Are you a lawyer yourself? If not, you know a lot less about family law than an experienced divorce attorney.

If you represent yourself in court, the judge will hold you to the same strict standards as your spouse’s attorney.

Although the judge will probably be patient with you, you simply don’t enough about the procedure, what documents you need, or how to adequately prepare and present your case.

On the other hand, divorce attorneys do this for a living. They know family law inside and out. They also know how to present the strongest argument possible for your case.

2. Objective Counsel During a Highly Emotional Time

Most couples going through a divorce experience anxiety, anger, and depression. They may be dealing with feelings of despair, betrayal, and confusion.

Add in all the stress, legalities, and important choices you need to make, and you’re bound to make a few bad decisions.

A divorce lawyer, while sympathetic, is not emotionally invested in your marriage. They can offer objective advice and counsel when you may be too emotional to see the big picture.

A lawyer can look past the emotion and see the best possible outcome for you and your children. They can also tell you if your expectations or requests are unreasonable or impossible.

3. Enlightening and Money-Saving Advice

Because you’re not a lawyer, there may be options available that you weren’t aware of.

Also, if you represent yourself, the judge may reject your proposals. This will lead to more time, more money, and more frustration before your divorce is finalized.

A good divorce lawyer can advise you on the best legal course of action to take. They know that sometimes the best solution is not for one party to “win,” but rather to negotiate a settlement.

Family legal services can ensure you don’t waste your valuable time and money by fighting for the wrong issues.

4. Help with Paperwork and Proceedings

When you file for divorce, be prepared for a veritable mountain of paperwork.

In a contested divorce, some lawyers will purposely bog down the opposing spouse in paperwork to try and force a settlement.

Even if your divorce isn’t contested, it’s still difficult and painstaking to track down every form and document you need for your case.

A divorce lawyer knows exactly what you need and can help you through the never-ending paperwork.

Where to Find Family Legal Services

No divorce is easy, but the right attorney can make the process less stressful for you and everyone involved.

Are you currently going through (or about to begin) divorce proceedings? Do you live in the York area?

If so, we invite you to contact our experienced, compassionate team of attorneys. Call us today at 717.848.3078 to learn how our family legal services can help you.