If you’re getting a divorce, there’s nothing better than speaking to people who’ve been divorced and of course, divorce attorneys who’ve handled divorce cases for years. If you’re afraid of making mistakes, you have every reason to worry. Divorce can be stressful, daunting, and full of the unexpected. Here, we weigh in on what you need to know about divorce, this way you hopefully avoid the common pitfalls of divorce.
1. It may take you a year or so to recover.
You may have fantasized about divorce for years, but don’t be surprised
if once the papers are filed, you don’t handle it as well as you
expected. You may be a strong, independent person who’s been “over”
your marriage for years, but that doesn’t mean you won’t take
the split hard. If you have a difficult time dealing with the divorce,
you may want to consider seeing a therapist who’s been through a
divorce themselves. This way, your therapist can know firsthand what you’re
going through.
2. Don’t hire just any attorney.
If you hire an attorney who mainly practices personal injury or criminal
defense with a side of divorce, you may not get the highest quality representation.
Instead of choosing a lawyer who “dabbles” in divorce, you’re
much better off hiring a divorce attorney who practices
family law exclusively. When you hire an attorney, who is well-versed in family law,
he or she will be educated in California’s divorce laws and will
know the local family court judges and their personalities.
3. Fully understand your finances.
Often, one spouse will handle all of the bills, while the other spouse
will be completely in the dark about it. If you’re the “out
spouse,” it’s time to dig deep and get as much information
as possible about the joint accounts early in your divorce case, if not
before you file. It’s critical that you learn all of the account
numbers and online passwords for bank accounts and credit cards, and all
other financial accounts. However, before you gather this information,
ask your attorney about the best way to obtain the info.
4. Create a post-divorce budget immediately.
You don’t want to end up cash-strapped and having to live off credit
cards after the divorce; your financial security should be your top priority.
If you are living beyond your means after the divorce, it can damage your
credit. If possible, sit down and figure out your post-divorce budget
before you even file for divorce. If you don’t know how much money you’ll
need during the separation and divorce, you won’t be in a good position
to negotiate a fair settlement.
If you need a San Diego divorce attorney, don’t hesitate to contact Claery & Hammond, LLP to meet with a caring and experienced member of our legal team.
