What You Should Know About Facing Divorce in the New Year

Starting on the marital dissolution road in the New Year will not be easy, and many couples have no clue what to do or gather up as they start their separation journey – finances, custody, child support, debt division and alimony all come to mind.

It’s easy to understand why divorcing couples feel that they are at the beginning of their breaking point.

We often get asked how they should prepare for an upcoming divorce. Here are a few suggestions we give, especially when starting a new year:

• Collect your financial information and past tax filings
• Setup your own bank account and other accounts such as a cell phone account
• Develop a monthly budget to utilize during and after the divorce proceedings
• Create a plan with your spouse on how you will tell your children, family and friends – it can save them from heartaches and the need to choose sides
• Clean up your social media platforms and be mindful of what you are posting

When marital partners decide to divorce in an amicable, peaceful and respectful manner using the collaborative divorce model, they are supported by lawyers who pledge to stay away from court litigation, a jointly retained financial neutral, and can include mental health experts who can work with a family to process the grief and anger of divorce, help with co-parenting agreements and/or be the voice of children – including adult children.

A financial neutral will transparently review a couple’s financial landscape and work with them and their lawyers to divide their finances, retirement, various assets and debt in a way that is agreeable to both spouses.

When you utilize the experts in the Los Angeles Collaborative Family Law Association, we will help to assist you with your divorce. We will work to help facilitate an agreement that both of you agree upon without appearing in court.

Call us today if you would like to learn more about how our members at the Los Angeles Collaborative Family Law Association can help you and your family through your divorce and preserve your and your family’s mental wellbeing!

Note: This information is general in nature and should not be construed as legal/financial/tax/or mental health advice. You should work with your attorney, financial, mental health or tax professional to determine what will work best for your situation.