Divorce is not an easy process for anyone, but if you prepare yourself before you file your case, it can help make things go a bit more smoothly. There are several steps you can take to put yourself in a better position to file for divorce.
Glamour has a few interesting suggestions on what you should do before you file for divorce. One of the suggestions is to start a journal to write about important aspects of your life, such as who took your child to the doctor or to establish your typical family routines from week to week. This can be a great tool when the court is considering custody issues. Most of the suggestions will help prepare you emotionally and financially.
Emotional preparations
You should make sure that you are emotionally ready to take this next step. It is always a good idea to go to counseling with your spouse. Make sure divorce is the right move. While you may be unable to save your marriage, attending counseling can at least put you in the right mental state to deal with the divorce and everything that will come along with that.
You also want to make sure you have a plan for announcing your divorce to friends and family. Specifically, you need to agree on what you will put on social media and when you will make an announcement on social media. You do not want someone close to you to find out through a social media post, especially if it is your children, so you need to be careful with what you post.
Financial preparations
If you do not have credit in your name, then you should establish it before your divorce. You also need to take inventory of your finances. Knowing where you stand can help you as you move forward through the process.
You should be careful about completely changing your spending habits, though. The court may look back on your marriage in the most recent years to determine your standard of living if you wish to ask for alimony. If you start living and spending differently, it can negatively impact on your alimony award.
