Divorce is rarely easy for anyone, but many divorce attorneys would advise people to take certain precautions and be aware of some facts before even beginning the process in order to make the ordeal a little more straightforward. Here are 3 pieces of advice the average divorce attorney would give a client before the divorce even starts.
Tip #1: Prepare Your Documents
The way to make your divorce go a lot faster is to be well prepared. There are individual elements each divorce must cover before it is finalized, such as property division, child custody, child support, spousal support, debt division, and so on. The outcome of many of these decisions will be determined through negotiations with an attorney or in court, where a judge will look over your documents and make a decision. Things like spousal support will depend on each spouse’s income, the length of the marriage, and the needs of any dependents. Have tax documents or pay stubs ready for your attorney, so he or she will understand what your average income is. Likewise, you should have a list drawn up of everything that is marital property and separate property.
Tip #2: Attorneys Are Not Licensed Therapists
Many people find divorce an incredibly emotional experience. However, they shouldn’t depend on their attorneys to be the shoulder on which to cry. This distance doesn’t indicate your lawyer doesn’t care about your emotions; rather, they don’t have the training it takes to help you emotionally cope with the experience. You could be driving up the costs of your legal fees by relying on your lawyer to be a therapist when you could pay the same amount to a licensed psychiatrist who can give you the tools needed to move on.
Tip #3: Nothing Is Worth Fighting for on Principle
The entire divorce process goes much faster and saves people more time if both spouses can agree with each other more than spar with each other. However, some bitter individuals take pleasure in arguing every point with their ex. Instead of saving themselves and their spouse time and money, they might drag on the process just to prove a point. This behavior will neither endear you to a judge nor will it prevent you from spending hundreds of dollars more to argue the case.
If you and your spouse are thinking of divorcing, talk to one of our skilled Dutchess County divorce attorneys. We have the knowledge and experience it takes to answer your questions and address your concerns effectively. Our firm prides itself on the level of personal service we can provide to each client. Let us see how we can help you.
Contact us at (845) 605-4330 or fill out our online form to schedule a confidential consultation with us today.