WHAT SHOULD I DO TO PREPARE FOR DIVORCE?
1. Talk with an attorney. Be sure to find a good attorney that you trust. Makes sure you feel comfortable with the attorney and that the attorney addresses your needs. Don't feel bad about looking around. It is important to find a good fit for you.
2. Get emotional support. It is important for you to have a caring network of friends, family and even professionals to help you and your family through this transition. You may be experiencing anger, frustration, fear, sadness and guilt. Talk with your lawyer about your support network and you might get some recommendations for professional help if that is suggested. You may not feel you need support. Chances are you do.
3. Be careful about email conversations!!!! You may be in a time of great upheaval. Changes in finances, changes in living conditions, stress from your teenagers. Be sure to be polite and respectful in ALL email correspondence with your spouse. You don't want a judge seeing mean, hateful email correspondence between you and your spouse.
4. Watch the content of your MySpace or Facebook pages. Your spouse may go to these internet sites to get information about you and pictures of you. Be on your best behavior. Your life will be under a microscope. No dating, no partying, just the business of running your family and your job.
5. Money. If you believe that divorce is going to be necessary set aside some emergency money in a separate account for you. Funds tend to disappear during a family crisis. You will need money for attorney's fees and possibly alternative living arrangements. You can use funds for reasonable expenses or put the money in a separate account for safekeeping. Keep good records of all money withdrawn because you will need to provide full disclosure regarding your use of the money. You might want to establish credit in your own name if you have none because it may be more difficult to get credit after the divorce.
6. Collect documents. Immediately begin to gather the most recent statements of all of the your and your spouse's bank, savings, retirement, mutual fund, and stock accounts. Also gather together all documentation regarding your debt, credit card statements, mortgage statements, car loans and all other debt documentation. Get copies of your last three years tax returns and your and your spouses most recent pay stubs. Keep all of these copies in a safe place away from access by your spouse.