Probable divorce clients routinely wanted to know from the Michigan divorce attorneys about the course of action to prepare for a divorce. Though no one prefers to imagine that his/her marriage is going to cease, unneeded hassle and dispute can be prevented by thinking advance and taking preparation for a divorce. A list of steps to be taken to prepare for divorce is provided here; the list is recommended by divorce lawyers in Michigan. The list contains guidelines applicable for usual situations and it is not designed to solve any distinct legal problem. To work out distinct circumstances of your divorce, you need to consult with a Michigan divorce lawyer of your choosing.
First Step: Know the procedure
• Try joint counseling. Efforts can be made through joint counseling to ensure every possible endeavor to protect your marriage.
• Seek advice from a lawyer. Choose a competent family law attorney and discuss all questions about your legal rights upon the divorce.
• Explore available community resources. Search community resources accessible to you and to your children for Michigan divorce workshops, financial assistance and counseling, etc.
• Consider joining a support group. Get a person with wisdom to discuss about your life happenings. Some local newspapers, for example Oakland Press, publish listing of present-day programs of local support groups. Some local community and religious and organizations regularly arrange workshops on recovery of divorce.
• Medication. Complexities related to divorce can cause clinical depression on most of the people. Consult with a doctor or therapist about suitable medications to assist you to overcome the difficult moments.
• Read relevant books. Relevant books on divorce can be found in the bookstore or public library will also help you to be informed on the divorce procedure.
Second step: Maintain records
• Separate Post Office Box. Think about having a post office box for keeping secrecy of your mail if your spouse and you are still living in the same house during the divorce events.
• Maintain your documents in a protected place. Do not keep your documents where you and your spouse usually reside; keep them in a safe place; it may be a deposit box at a bank or your friend’s house.
• Prepare a history of your relationship. Put down details history of your conjugal life for your lawyer. Insert the date when you get married, dates of birth of your children, dates of acquiring large properties, and an inventory of the assets with their prices which either you or your spouse achieved and succeeded after the marriage.
• Track your spouse’s correspondence. Keep notices on your spouse’s mails. If your spouse does not allow you to open his/her mail, try to keep a list of the senders names and addresses. If you are allowed to open the mails, make copies of all important documents, for example, letters from banks, credit card providers, insurance companies etc.
Third step: Keep track of your assets
• Be aware of what you possess. Collect information about the properties of your ownership. Prepare a list of debts and assets of you and your spouse. All considerable assets and real properties and values of the properties will have to be included in the list.
• Prepare a list of your valuables. Conduct an inventory of all high-priced stuffs of your house, take pictures of the stuffs and list them with approximate price of each item.
• Keep copies of last one year’s all statements. Get copies of tax returns, property tax statements, bank account records and statements, all insurance policies, deeds of properties, brokerage statements, etc. Store these copies in a protected place.
Fourth step: know your debts
• Know your debts. Collect your annual credit report.
• Have copies of all documents related to debts and loans. Gather copies of documents related debts and loans of you and your spouse, including home loan statements, credit card statements, mortgage statements, car loans and all other loans. Store copies of these documents in a protected place.
Fifth step: Protect your credit
• Create your personal credit. To develop your credit history, get a credit card in your own name if you do not have any credit card already. Otherwise, You will experience difficulty after divorce to buy a car, house, etc without any credit history.
• Know your joint accounts. All joint credit card accounts should be closed when you are ready for getting separated.
• Do not generate new debt. Do not generate any new debts and also do not permit your spouse to do the same. Avoid making major purchases or letting your spouse to do so immediately before the filing for divorce or while the divorce proceedings is going on.
Sixth step: Keep track of your stuffs and funds
• Outstanding items. If you have any special items which are owned by you, think about shifting such things from the house. Maintain records of these items, as you will have to answer for them during the proceedings of divorce.
• Protect incriminating evidence about your spouse. If you have any incriminating evidence about your spouse like copies of emails to his/her girlfriend/boyfriend, video tapes, his/her diary, store these items in a secure place.
• Spend from joint funds. Before you go for separation, avail joint funds to purchase dresses for you and your children, fix up your car or house, and spend for medical checkup dental treatment.
• Put aside funds for separation. You can put aside some cash reserves for both you and your spouse to utilize during the initial periods of separation.
• Split up joint funds. Think about shifting your portion of the joint funds to your personal bank account; however, do not spend the fund carelessly as you will have to account for it to the Court.
• Preserve funds for attorney. Arrange some funds for hiring a lawyer.
• Clear debts. Before you go for separation, think about reimbursing bills and credit cards which are in your own name from the joint funds.
• Retain inherited funds detached. Retain all inherited funds away from your spouse.
• Defer probable income or bonuses. For the purpose of reducing your probable liability for support and alimony, think about deferring income or bonuses till the divorce process completed. Also try to know your spouse’s probable bonuses or deferred income.
Seventh step: Track your spending habits
• Know your expenses. Get well informed with the expenditures connected with maintaining family residence and associated necessities of your children and spouse because either you or your spouse might have to maintain a different residence along with your children during the proceedings of the divorce.
Eighth Step: Plan your future
• Work out your future career options. Plan your future career considering the financial impact the divorce may bring in your income.
• Analyze the tax effects. Discuss with your accountant about possible effects on the payable taxes as a result of adopting different options, like dependency exemptions for the children or keeping the house.
• Plan your living place. Plan a place where you want to live after the settlement of your divorce.
Ninth step: Negotiate with your spouse
• Start negotiating. If possible, start discussing with your wife about the divorce in a tranquil manner. But do not make any agreements with your spouse in written without consulting your attorney. Try to locate on what point your spouse is ready to give concessions. Unearth what your spouse is not interested in dislodging.
Tenth step: Go slow
• Do not make hurry in doing all the things recommended here. Advance for a divorce slowly and cautiously.
• Divorce can be a terrifying experience, but it can initiate a new outset in your life. Be informed and prepared. By doing so turn your divorce experience positive rather than terrifying.
Contact Goldman & Associates for a Free Consultation
For your convenience, each family law attorney in Michigan offers a free phone consultation. Contact us today by calling (248) 588-3333 or (877) 737-8800 toll-free. An experienced Michigan family law attorney is waiting to speak with you about your legal matters.
Disclaimer: The information presented on this website by our Michigan family law lawyers is not considered legal advice and for informational purposes only. We do not guarantee that the validity of the material presented here and that the content is error-free. Utilizing our website does not in any way create an attorney-client relationship. For legal advice, please contact our experienced Michigan family attorneys at (877) 737-8800.