Getting separated from your partner is never the easiest thing in the world to do most times. What makes it a little bit harder is the connection you both share and have built over the years in terms of kids, properties, or wealth. A divorce will bring changes to almost every area of your life — there’s no arguing that. Then there’s the issue of who would retain legal rights over the children if they’re still young.
Let’s not forget the pain and regret that usually accompany divorce. This might even cause you to take a lot of tough decisions in the heat of the moment. The thoughts of how to start your life afresh would plague your mind — especially if it was never your decision to let go but your partner who was prepared to end the marriage which would definitely cause even bigger pain.
Amidst all these, there are legal steps you must take before or while going through the divorce process. Taking these steps would help ensure you avoid making some costly mistakes. It would also help you make the most of your divorce. Here is some legal advice you shouldn’t forget during your divorce.
Contents
1. Never Forget To Update Your Will
When it is clear that you’d be divorcing your partner, one of the initial steps you want to take is to update your will. This would help prevent your soon-to-be-ex from getting your valuables or assets. You should update your will to what you would like it to be.
The downside to not doing it while it crosses your mind is that your partner gets to have your properties and wealth after you’re gone. Even if you didn’t leave your partner anything, they can take legal actions after you are gone to recover your properties for themselves as your legal partner once they realize you didn’t update it.
2. Get a Divorce Lawyer
There are certain issues that may not get settled between you and your partner when filing for a divorce. Couples who don’t see eye to eye on certain issues are usually the ones who most often file for a divorce. Settling things in a court of law with an attorney representing you might be the next best course of action. This attorney would represent your interests and work to help you win your case.
Another reason why you may need to get a divorce attorney is for you to be able to settle complex issues like in cases when both partners have large assets or properties that need to be shared proportionally. This would require hiring a lawyer for the paperwork.
3. Close Joint Accounts and Create Your Own Account
If you and your soon-to-be-ex have operated a joint account in the past, you should close it and get a new one for yourself. This would prevent you from being responsible for any future debt owed by your partner after the divorce. If there would be a delay in closing the account, you should freeze the account to prevent any bad credit record.
Also, ensure you alert your creditors about the divorce if you have changed your contact. This would prevent you from getting any bad financial record pending the time the divorce is finalized.
You should also get a new account and credit card in your name. In doing so, you avoided incurring any debt on yourself on the joint account.
4. Put on Your Best Behavior
There are so many things that a lawyer can leverage during a divorce if you are not careful. You should try to refrain from activities such as partying, not obeying traffic rules, vandalism, and several others alike. You should also try to not see anyone or go out on dates for that period, to prevent any possible cheating allegations that can be made against you.
If your children are involved, you should be close to them and perform your normal responsibility towards them. You should also take care of yourself in every way so that the court may deem you fit as someone who can have custody of children.
While divorce can be unsettling, all these and many more are things you should follow and put in place so as to have a seamless divorce. They would also prevent you from taking actions that would have any negative effect on you.
Also, remember to take care of your mental health. This is usually a trying period for even the strongest of men. You need all the love that you can get and stay close to your loved ones until the process is over.
