Marriage is supposed to be a wonderful and rewarding experience. Unfortunately, not everyone’s marriage is or ever was this way, so a lot of couples end up getting divorced. If you’re considering going through the divorce process this process, our Lansing divorce attorneys have put together a list of five things to do before you actually take the leap and file for one.
1. Take Time Apart
If things aren’t working out between you and your spouse and you’re thinking about getting a , try spending some time apart first. Taking time apart will allow you to clear your head and sort through your emotions. After thinking things over and spending time apart, you may find you’ve changed your mind. By taking time apart first, you’ll have an easier time finding out what it is you really want instead of filing for divorce and regretting it later.
2. Seek Marital Counseling
Are you sure that divorce is really what you want? It’s possible you and your spouse can save your marriage by talking to a . By seeing a marriage counselor, you’ll be able to find out what went wrong in your marriage and whether or not you can fix it. Once you’ve talked to a counselor and decided you’re absolutely sure you want a divorce, you can follow the rest of the steps below.
3. Start Saving Your Money
If you have children, you must consider what things make sense with regard to child custody. Is this a case where there should be shared or joint custody? Make sure you keep track of the time you spend with your children, and how much time your spouse spends with the children. More and more cases end up with joint or shared custody. It is also important to look at the situation at a realistic level. Do not go in with the attitude of trying to hurt your spouse, whether it be custody or money, but look at what is in the best interests of your children are going to be moving forward in the event of a divorce.
4. Talk to a Lawyer
You don’t have to hire a lawyer just yet, but getting legal advice from an experienced attorney before filing will be extremely helpful. Get as much information as possible from a lawyer to get an idea of how the divorce process works and how much it will cost. A divorce attorney will give you advice on what you should be doing beforehand to help you prepare for filing.
5. Safeguard Your Assets
Truth is, you’re probably not going to be able to keep everything when you divorce. Depending on what state you live in, you and your will be split either equally or equitably. To have a better chance of keeping most of your possessions, get proof that you were given or have inherited assets. Also, it’s helpful to make copies of any important legal documents you have like tax returns, pension plans, savings, and investments.
Divorce can be a long and taxing process, so you want to make sure you’re as prepared as possible. If you’re thinking about ending your marriage, do these five things before even considering filing for a divorce. If you are looking for additional professional legal counseling with regards to the divorce procedures, please contact our divorce attorneys in East Lansing MI at (517) 337-4600.