A Simple Guide for Getting a Divorce

Getting a divorce is not easy; it means great emotional anguish along with loss of time, energy, and money. You can obtain a divorce quickly if you have been married for a short time and don’t have any children. But if you have children, the process can go on for a long time.

Do You Really Want a Divorce? 

Since divorce is tough, try your hardest to save your marriage. Use mediation, religion, vacations, therapy, couple counseling, friends, relatives, and any other method you can think of to keep your marriage afloat. Your children are the biggest reason you must stay together.

However, you don’t have to stay in an abusive relationship even “for the kids.” In such a case, you will be doing your children a favor by getting out of the relationship.

Be Friendly with Your Spouse  

You don’t have to fly at each other’s throats just because you are getting divorced. Be friendly and settle the matter amicably. Such an attitude will help you draw up a separation agreement peacefully. A separation agreement is a document that clearly states the agreements you have reached regarding issues such as child support, parent visits, financial support, property division, and child custody.

If you treat you spouse like an enemy, you will find it difficult to come to any agreement with regard to these crucial issues. Your divorce could then turn out to be contested divorce—a long drawn out, bitter, and painful battle, which can be settled only by a courtroom trial.

Trials are painful and should be avoided at any cost unless you are caught up in an extremely difficult legal situation. As far as possible, go in for a settlement and avoid a courtroom trial.

Get a Good Lawyer 

The pro se method of getting a divorce might seem attractive. Pro se literally means “for yourself,” and as its name suggests, you represent yourself. Now, unless you have legal expertise, this won’t work out. Getting a good lawyer to represent you is a much wiser option. After all, divorce is a complicated matter than involves transfer of property with accompanying tax issues, child support and custody, alimony, and many more.

Keep Your Documents in Order 

You must keep all your documents in order. Here is what you will be required to produce:

·         Addresses, social security numbers, and phone numbers of both spouses

·         Complete names, dates of birth, social security numbers, addresses, and educational details of your children

·         County and date of your marriage

·         Documents related to your previous marriages, if any

·         Copies of domestic contracts, such as prenuptial agreements

·         Documents related to previous legal proceedings between you and your spouse

·         Details of previous separations, attempts to get reconciled, as well as details of couple counseling or therapy received by both spouses

·         Income tax as well as IRS details of the past five years

·         Statement of your present income

·         List of assets and liabilities of both spouses

·         Documents relations to credit, such as mortgage applications

Learn the Divorce Laws of Your State 

A sound working knowledge of the divorce laws of your state will be of immense help to you throughout the divorce proceedings. You will need this information to give proper instructions to your lawyer about your expectations regarding child support, property division, and so on.

Your marriage is a closed chapter once the judge signs the divorce decree. You may now celebrate! Or if you want to mourn for a few days, you may do so. Take some quiet time to think and reflect on this concluded chapter of your life. Once your healing is complete, you are free to move on with life and even remarry if you wish.