Advanced Planning Often Leads to  Better Results

In the great majority of cases, divorce is a decision that comes from months or years of consideration. If you have thought about divorce but are not yet sure, or if the timing isn’t right, there are still other things you can do now to protect your assets and your children in the future.

At Standish Law Group, we encourage individuals to educate themselves on the process, benefits, and consequences of divorce, and guide them in taking the necessary action to protect themselves now and how to prepare for the future.

What can you do now?

Define your goals: Now is the time to start thinking about how you want your life to look after the divorce. Do you want to keep your home? What is the best interest of your children? Will you seek financial support? Prioritizing your legal objectives now will save time and money with the process is underway.

Engage with a law firm: Only a family law attorney can give you up to date, informed legal advice. Even if you are not yet fully committed to a divorce, it is wise to seek legal counsel to assess your position and determine the best options for you and your family. We will listen to you and provide honest advice in regard to your current situation. In some instances, after meeting with our attorneys, people realize their marriage may be saved, and we refer them to respected marriage counselors. In other cases, clients want to wait a few months or a year before taking any action at all. We look past the emotional state and present you with concrete legal information so you can make the best decision for your future. Our approach always advocates your best interest.

Take a snapshot of your finances : Before taking steps to initiate a divorce with a lawyer, it is very helpful to start assembling financial records. This includes bank statements for both individual and joint bank accounts, retirement account statements, income tax returns, investment accounts, pay records, credit card statements, mortgage payments, vehicle payments, utility bills and other expenses. Also, create a detailed budget to know what your current monthly expenses are and a forecast budget for your post-divorce living expenses and income.

Caution! : If you are considering a divorce, it is important to closely monitor your behavior and actions to avoid doing something that could hinder your reputation and shine a bad light. Do not bad-mouth your spouse in front of the kids or on social media. Do not send angry or negative emails or texts. Make sure you do not send hostile voice messages. It is also important to do everything you can to protect yourself and your children. It is also helpful to change passwords on your personal email, social media and bank accounts. If you are the victim of abuse, contact the police or a domestic abuse hotline right away.