Approximately 39% of all marriages will ultimately end in divorce. Being in a relationship that is falling apart can be very emotionally damaging. If you feel like you are headed for a divorce, you need to remove emotions from the equation while you prepare for this process. Failing to properly prepare for your impending divorce can result in you losing lots of money or worse, custody of your child.
If you are unsure about how to get your proverbial ducks in a row before a divorce, then consulting with legal professionals is beneficial. With their help, you can avoid making mistakes as you try to dissolve your marriage. Are you trying to protect yourself before a divorce? If so, check out the information below.
Start By Protecting Your Data
Emotions can run really high during a divorce. For some people, getting even with their soon to be ex-spouse is something they obsess over. If you feel like your partner is trying to hurt you financially, then you need to start by securing your personal data.
Many married couples share passwords and usernames. While this is no big deal when a couple is married, it can be disastrous if you are going through a divorce. Instead of waiting until your sensitive information has been compromised to take action, you need to start changing your passwords now. Rather than announcing these changes to your spouse, you need to keep these moves a secret.
Dissolve Any Joint Bank Accounts
The longer a couple stays married, the more entangled their finances will become. Over time, married couples start to open joint accounts to make paying bills easier. If you have a joint account with your spouse, you need to work on dissolving them quickly.
When couples are at war, they tend to use things like money as leverage against each other. Having your bank account cleaned out by an angry spouse can really ruin your day. This is why you need to work on avoiding these problems by taking action. Closing these accounts may be time-consuming, but it will be worth the effort considering the problems it can help you avoid in the future.
Get Everything in Writing
Some couples work very hard to keep their divorce civil. You need to avoid letting your need to be civil get in the way of progress. If you are trying to negotiate things like child custody or division of property, you need to have a lawyer present. Your lawyer will be able to help you get these important things in writing.
This means the agreements you reach with your spouse will be binding and admissible in court should they default on the terms. Without this type of legal guidance, you run the risk of getting taken advantage of. A lawyer can also give you a breakdown of what your rights are as a parent. Knowing these rights can help you negotiate a fair joint custody agreement with your spouse.
Are You Headed For Divorce?
If you feel like you are on a collision course with divorce, it is time to start preparing. Contact Joey Gilbert Law and let us help you during this difficult process.
