As the old saying goes, "Hindsight is 20/20," so there's no one better than a Nassau County divorce attorney to give you advice on what to do and what not to do while you're considering a divorce. Here, we're sharing what we advise clients when they split from their spouses, and we weigh in on some of the most common, yet preventable divorce mistakes.
1. Choose your attorney carefully.
The last thing you want to do is hire an attorney who only dabbles in family law. Doing that can result in an undesirable outcome or settlement. Instead, hire an experienced family lawyer who handles divorce cases on a daily basis.
2. Become intimately familiar with your finances.
If you've been the "out spouse," the spouse who's in the dark about the family finances, now is the time to dig deep and get intimately familiar with them. We recommend pulling both of your credit reports so you know exactly which accounts you have and which ones are joint, this way you'll be well-informed before you head to court. Be sure to learn all of the online passwords, which accounts are set up for automatic payments and where you have investments.
3. Figure out a post-divorce budget ASAP.
Create a post-divorce budget right away. This will help you avoid making poor decisions because you don't understand what you'll need as a single person. If you don't know what you need to support yourself, you could end up in a financial bind.
4. Create an emergency fund.
From buying a new washer and dryer to paying for your own health insurance, you must anticipate unexpected expenses to arise. Try to have money available in case you need it.
5. Revenge usually backfires.
If you call up your ex's boss and tell him that he or she had an affair with their co-worker that could get them fired. That will only show you and your children what it's like for your ex to be unemployed or living on a lower salary. Nobody wins.
6. Monitor your children's behavior.
Your children may not tell you how they really feel about your divorce, but their behavior sure will. Children tend to feel responsible when their parents break up, no matter how much their parents say it has nothing to do with them.
Monitor your children for unusual behavior, for example, little ones may want to sleep in bed with you, or they may be more angry than usual. Adolescents may act out by skipping school, drinking alcohol, or disobeying house rules. The best way to address any such issues is to discuss them openly as a family and listening to what they have to say.
For more divorce advice, such as how to gracefully announce your divorce,contactJason M. Barbara & Associates, P.C. to schedule a free consultation with a Nassau County divorce lawyer.