Divorce is stressful for all parties involved. There are uncertainties and upheavals you may come across that can overwhelm you anywhere in the process. Because of this, you need to be well-prepared. Before you decide to divorce, there are things you must do. These include the following:
Secure Your Finances
Take inventory of your finances. Get copies of financial records and store them in a secure place. You can leave these records with a family member or friend you trust and have copies for your Columbus divorce lawyers. Avoid storing copies on your computer or house. If you think the divorce will be contentious, take out a safe deposit box to keep the records here. These records include bank account information, credit card statements, and other financial records.
Separate Funds
Before the divorce process starts, secure as many funds as you can without making it obvious to your spouse to avoid chaos. You will need funds to pay your lawyer and live on after the finality of your divorce. Doing this early will ensure your spouse won’t choke off your money supply. If your spouse is not aware of your intentions, do not file for divorce until you have put aside enough funds to live on for at least six months.
Open New Accounts
Go to a new bank and open a new savings and checking account. Also, open a post office box, so all personal mail will be sent to this. You can use these new accounts to find a great lawyer who may tell you to withdraw up to half of the funds you have in your joint account. Make sure to open a new credit card in your name so you can build credit.
Keep Track of Your Financial Statements
If you and your spouse share assets and one of you decides to be irresponsible, you both will suffer the consequences. In divorces that have joint accounts, a party can drain assets without telling the other. But, you can avoid becoming a victim of this move when you keep track of your financial statements. Also, before you even file for divorce, you want to start building a credit score to start living a financially-independent life. Your credit report will tell you a lot about what’s happening with your finances while you are still married, so keep track of it before your divorce is completed.
A skilled divorce attorney can suggest other ways to ensure you are prepared for divorce financially. Also, they can tell what actions are legal and what are not.
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