Considering A Divorce or Separation? Use Our Pre-Divorce Checklist

The breakup of a marriage often begins gradually, with issues that grow bigger and more divisive as time goes by. Counseling and self-help programs can help you develop strategies to cope with or rectify the situation, and in some cases working through problems can make a marriage stronger as the result. In other situations, either these tactics do not work, or there have been serious behaviors and breaches of trust that are impossible to overlook or repair. In these cases, the best option for the health and happiness of all involved may be to consider filing for divorce.

Divorce is a major, life changing step that has serious ramifications for everyone involved, but there are steps you can take to minimize the potential negative impacts. Our divorce checklist can help you plan for your future, while helping to alleviate some of the stress and uncertainty you likely are facing.

4 Steps To Prepare For Divorce

If you are considering a marital separation or contemplating a divorce from your spouse, it is important to have a realistic game plan in place that addresses some of the key areas of your life which are likely to be impacted in divorce proceedings. The following four steps can be used as a checklist to guide you in recommended actions to take to ensure that you are properly prepared:

Establish Your Own Accounts: Open a checking and savings account that you alone can access, and apply for a credit card in your name only.
Outline Your Housing Options: Begin looking at the rental or real estate sales market in your area, to get an idea of what you can afford and the amount of space you need.
Consider Your Children’s Needs: Resources are available through websites such as KidsHealth.org that can help you understand the way divorce impacts children, as well as to get tips on handle potential conflicts that could arise.
Prepare For People’s Reactions: Realize that relations with family members and friends could change, and begin to establish your own support system.

Issues to Discuss With An Attorney

Under Chapter 61 of the Florida State Statutes, divorce is referred to as the dissolution of marriage. At some point, you will want to schedule a consultation with an experienced divorce attorney to answer questions about divorce proceedings, including when and how divorce documents are filed and how long it will likely take for your divorce to become final. During this consultation, you can also review some of the common matters typical in divorce cases that often create conflict, such as:

Marital property division;
Alimony and spousal support;
Parenting plans and timesharing arrangements, including financial responsibility for the children involved.

We Can Help You with Your Case

For compassionate, professional legal guidance in matters relating to divorce, contact the Vanessa L. Prieto Law Offices, LLC today. Our experienced Florida divorce attorney can advise you on the details surrounding your particular situation, and help you determine the best course of action to take to protect your rights and interests.

Resources:

leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0000-0099/0061/0061PARTIContentsIndex.html

kidshealth.org/en/parents/help-child-divorce.html