Most people hire a divorce attorney with the idea that they can help file the paperwork, argue in court, and take care of the legal matters surrounding the breakup of the marriage. But a good lawyer can do more than that.
Most people hire a divorce attorney with the idea that they can help file the paperwork, argue in court, and take care of the legal matters surrounding the breakup of the marriage. But a good lawyer can do more than that. Getting through the legal part of a divorce is definitely a challenge, but there are other challenges that can come about even when the legal matters have been put to bed. With a good divorce attorney, you can navigate these waters just as you did those of the actual proceedings. Here are some of the things you should get in order after the ink on the dissolution is dry. First things first: you need to make sure your finances are in order. Things will be different now that you don’t have two people living in the same house together. You may have court ordered child support coming your way, or you may have to pay it out, depending on the situation. Some people find themselves in a much better financial situation after a divorce, and others find themselves in a much worse situation. The important thing is to know where you are and what you need to do. Don’t fool yourself into thinking “everything will be all right” if the numbers don’t spell that out. Split yourself from your spouse in all possible ways. Obviously, if you have children together there will be a bond that holds you together for the rest of your life. Otherwise, it is time to get her name off all your credit cards and vice versa. Bank accounts need to go to one party or the other, cars should be transferred to only one name, etc. This isn’t to avoid vengeance (though if that is a possibility then you should make this your number one priority), but anyone can wind up having financial troubles or not making payments. You don’t want your ex-spouse’s negligence to affect your credit report. Depending on how long you were married, you might find single life to be very difficult to handle for a little while. Regardless of how you felt at the end of your marriage, you once loved the person you don’t want to be with now. Those feelings will probably come back a little once you’ve moved on. Since this can be a difficult and lonely time, don’t hesitate to find a support system you can cling to.
