I’m Considering Divorce: What Should I Do First?

Deciding to divorce is a big step in a person’s life. It impacts your entire family and is a decision that needs to be carefully considered. If you are seriously contemplating divorce, you will want to make sure that your affairs are in order before you officially call it quits. This will help smooth the divorce process and pave the way for you to begin your new life as a single person. Following are five steps to take before you serve your spouse dissolution of marriage papers.

1. Speak with a Florida-based family law attorney.

This is the single most important planning step. You need to fully understand your rights and obligations under the law before you file for divorce to obtain the most favorable outcome possible. Do not rely on searching the web, reading books about divorce, or talking to divorced friends. An experienced family law attorney should review your case, advise you of the law, and provide specific next steps based on the details of your situation.  The law offices of Troy Legal are here to support you every step of the way.

• Make a financial plan.

If you have been a stay-at-home spouse, think about how you will support yourself moving forward. Consider if you need to enroll in training classes, update your resume, or practice your interview skills. Even if you are already working, you may need to scale back on unnecessary expenditures. If you have not been active in managing your finances, familiarize yourself with your assets, such as bank account balances, brokerage accounts, and retirement accounts.

• Obtain copies of all important documents.

For your divorce procedure, you will need copies of the deed to your home, mortgage statement, car registration, car loan statement, statements for any other loans, credit card statements, bank statements, brokerage statements, retirement account statements, college savings account statements, jewelry appraisals, and any other documents that are necessary to create a full picture of your financial situation.

• Change your medical directives.

If you have a medical directive or other legal document that gives your spouse the ability to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are incapacitated, update it and appoint a new person to make these decisions on your behalf.

• Keep a low profile.

Avoid participating in any activities that could cause the court to call your judgement into question. This means no dating, no excessive drinking, and no late-night partying. This is especially important if you have minor children. Any of these activities will give your spouse ammunition to attempt to prove that you are an unfit parent. Also, avoid posting anything on social media. Even if your account is private, it may be still possible for your spouse or their attorney to access it.

If you are considering filing for divorce, contact Troy Legal for a consultation about your case. We will advise you on the best course of action so that you can start on the next chapter of your life.

Troy Legal, P.A. was founded in 2009 and serves clients throughout South Florida. Troy Legal, P.A., specializes in Marital and Family Law, providing reputable legal services for prenuptial and co-habitation agreements, paternity cases, adoption matters, alimony and child support, time sharing and parenting plans, drafting of qualified domestic relations orders (qdros), mediation services, equitable distributions, collaborative law, post-judgement modification and enforcement, domestic violence cases, and dissolution of marriage or divorce.  Troy Legal, PA. .is dedicated to serving clients through compassionate and aggressive representation, while upholding the highest degree of ethical standards.