How to Prepare For Divorce

 Posted on June 15, 2021 in Divorce

Divorce is frequently cited as one of the five most stressful life events. No matter how long you’ve been married, deciding to get divorced is often accompanied by many complex emotions. Although divorce is increasingly common, it is not a decision to be taken lightly, and its potential impact on spouses, children, pets, and assets must all be considered. Fortunately, with the help of a lawyer, you can plan ahead and prepare yourself for the process to make it go as smoothly as possible. 

Have a Long-Term Strategy

Widespread academic research and collective wisdom both attest to the negative effect divorce can have on everyone involved. Speaking dispassionately, most people would tell you that a commitment to reducing conflict in divorce is crucial for minimizing the negative impact, especially on children. However, when spouses are in the midst of difficult or hostile divorce negotiations, it can be hard to have a long-term strategy and remember that the process of divorce doesn’t last forever – even if it seems like it might!

Keeping the peace as much as possible will have a significant positive impact on your family's future. Children deserve non-combative parents, and spouses deserve to move forward with their life in a harmonious manner. Proactively plan with your spouse to commit to civility – even when things might get rough – and use friends and family to help you maintain a long-term perspective. When the divorce is over and life moves on, you will be glad you made the effort.

Plan Your Finances Wisely

Divorce has a reputation for being financially destructive, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be. Preparing for a divorce by working with financial analysts, accountants, and divorce lawyers will help you get a picture of your collective finances and plan accordingly. You should be intimately familiar with your mutual assets, which include anything that each spouse owned separately prior to the marriage. This is also a good time to begin saving for the cost of the divorce proceedings.

Updating your will – as many times as necessary – is an important but often overlooked aspect of managing your finances during a divorce. Take care of the people you care about and make certain that your priorities are communicated and respected.

Consider Options Outside of Court

A divorce does not have to end in a costly and time-consuming court battle. Mediation and collaborative divorce are options for spouses who want to save time and money while reducing the stress, hostility, and difficulty of appearing in court to testify against each other. Mediation gives spouses more freedom to settle the divorce on their own terms, rather than relying on a judge’s interpretation of the law, and can give parents the option of including the children’s preferences when appropriate.

Contact a Cook County Divorce Attorney

Having an experienced divorce attorney in Chicago, Illinois to guide you through the initial stages of the divorce process can save you time and money in the long run. Leverage our experience for your benefit and contact the law offices of George J. Skuros at 312-884-1222 for a confidential consultation.

Sources: 

https://www.ourfamilywizard.com/blog/having-more-amicable-divorce 

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=2489&ChapterID=51 https://sophia.stkate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1242&context=msw_papers