How to Prepare to File for Divorce

Divorce is a significant life change. Just like other significant life changes, it’s not something you want to walk into without careful preparations. You took many different steps to prepare for your wedding day, the day you would become a parent, and many other days in between. Preparing for your divorce will minimize the cost and emotional toll setting you up for a successful next chapter. If you don’t take these steps, your divorce may last longer, turn bitter, be more costly, and have a less favorable outcome for you. If you are considering filing for divorce or know that your spouse has or will soon be doing so, don’t hesitate to reach out to a compassionate Illinois divorce attorney.

Gather Important Legal and Financial Documents

Since divorce is a legal process that deals with the financial aspects of a marriage, it’s imperative that you have access to or copies of these essential documents. Knowing where these things are will save you stress and time down the road. It can also prevent additional feuds with your spouse and help decrease the chance that they will attempt to conceal assets. Records you should locate include:

• Financial account statements
• Tax documents
• Retirement account records
• Deeds
• Loan agreements
• Insurance documents

Consider Your Goals and Priorities

You’ll need to sit down and think about what your ideal divorce looks like—do you get to keep the house? Will you sell the business? Who will the kids live with? What will happen to your timeshare or even your pets? While you likely won’t get everything you want in a divorce settlement, going into your divorce with an awareness of your goals will help. You can discuss these goals with an experienced Illinois divorce lawyer who can also ensure that you don’t forget any details.

Don’t Use Social Media

It’s ideal if you can shut down your social media accounts for a while or at least until your divorce is settled. Anything you post on social media could potentially be used against you in a divorce dispute. To protect your interests, it’s a best practice to refrain from posting anything until your divorce is entirely resolved. Even if you feel like the only people who can see what you post on social media are genuine friends, you never know what someone could be doing behind your back. 

Find a Support System

Just because you need to ditch social media for a short period of time doesn’t mean you don’t need a support system. You can seek support from friends, relatives, divorce support groups, religious centers and leaders, and various professionals such as a therapist. Talking about your feelings and relating to others who have been through similar situations can prove invaluable in this process.

Hire a Reputable Oak Brook Divorce Lawyer

Last but certainly not least, hire a reputable Oak Brook divorce attorney to represent your interests. The sooner you have one on your side, the better the outcome your case might have. Your attorney can inform you about your rights and obligations. They can also help you come up with creative solutions to settling your differences with your soon-to-be ex-spouse. If you are ready to have someone on your side and want to learn more about the services we offer, contact us today to schedule your private divorce consultation.