Thursday, January 24, 2013

Nine Must-Dos Before Filing for Divorce

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Divorce is a major transition that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Psychologically, it’s one of the most traumatic experiences in life.It is important to not only be emotionally ready for a divorce but also to be prepared for what to expect during the divorce process as well as your new life after the divorce is final. As a result,  filing for a divorce should be the last step, not the first step.

Henry S. Gornbein, P.A., and President of Henry S. Gornbein, PLLC, a family law firm in Bloomfield Hills, MI has a list of nine steps to walk through before proceeding with divorce. They are:

1. Try marriage counseling. The obvious reason to do this is to see if your marriage can be saved. Another reason is to learn everything you can about yourself so you don't repeat the same mistakes with the same kind of person again and again

2. Find out as much as you can about your family finances. Have copies of your tax returns, savings accounts, checking accounts, credit card statements and investment accounts. The more you know about your finances, the better prepared you are if you do go through with a divorce.

3. If you have kids, think about time-sharing arrangements. Keep track of how much time you and your spouse each spend with your children. Record what you do with your children. Is this a case where there should be equal timesharing? Proceed with what's best for your kids, not what's best for you. “You don't want to use your children as a weapon to try to punish your spouse,” says Gornbein.

4. Prepare a budget. Determine how much income you’d need to survive on your own. Evaluate whether you need to brush up on skills for the job market or obtain an education.

5. Talk to an attorney. Make sure your counsel is knowledgeable and experienced in family law. Discuss costs and expectations. You should be able to relate to your attorney. “There are a lot of good attorneys,” says Gornbein. “It's important to make sure you have the right fit.”

6. If you have a home, decide what you’d do with it. Would you or your spouse keep it? Would you sell it?

7. Keep a diary. Simply keeping track of events and emotions can be surprisingly important. As you reflect, envision a plan for your future. Would a divorce free you up to reach for your goals? Or would you look back with disappointment and regret?

8. Build a support system. Consider who among your family and friends you can trust and talk to. Gornbein warns, however, that everyone will have different opinions and advice, so having presence of mind to make your own informed decisions is crucial.

9. Ask yourself if you’re sure you want a divorce. Carefully think it out and analyze what makes sense. You could regret a knee-jerk reaction later in life, especially if you want to leave your marriage for another relationship. “I've seen so many people who leave one bad marriage for a bad relationship and end up going through another divorce,” says Gornbein.

To read the original article, visit : http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/january-has-long-been-a-popular-month-for-divorce-filings#ixzz2Iv1p1BJX

 

 

Andrew G. Storie is a family law and divorce attorney who serves Orlando and all of Central Florida. For more information, or if you have questions please visit www.storielaw.com or call us at (407) 838-0887.

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