It’s the Black Friday of Family Law. January is the month when many couples decide to divorce, arriving at their last straw during the holidays. Looking forward to the new year, family law attorneys Alan Plevy and Kyung (Kathryn) Dickerson offer some tips to consider before the split:
Organize Financial Information
You don’t want to forget essential documents when it comes time to sit down with your attorney. Whether you or your spouse did most of the financial dealings throughout your marriage, it’s important that you both have an understanding of what each one means. Here are some documents to add to your list:
- Tax returns
- Mortgages
- Retirement statements
- Credit card statements
- Wills
- Investment records
Save money
With the holiday shopping complete, it’s time to switch to savings mode. No matter how long you’ve been married, switching to a single income is a big adjustment. Starting to save early will ease the transition.
Practicing autonomy goes hand-in-hand with the rationale behind saving money: soon, you will be living on your own and supporting yourself. “When two people get married, their lives naturally become intertwined,” Dickerson says. “To begin untangling yourself from your spouse, you can start creating your own accounts and changing your passwords.” Start small by changing your email password, and work your way toward establishing your own bank accounts. These will feel like personal wins as you take steps closer to separation.
Prepare Your Family
Perhaps some of your family is already aware of your divorce plans, but some family members are not. Keep in mind that this can be tough news to receive following the holidays, especially if you spent that time together as a family.
“Try sitting down with your children together,” Plevy suggests. “Allow them the opportunity to ask questions, giving them a role in the situation.” However, as Plevy reminds, remain firm in your resolution. Let them know that you are both always available to talk but that the decision is already made.
Being proactive in all angles of your divorce will create the best outcomes for everyone involved. Emotions can run high and things can get chaotic, so you’ll be grateful to yourself for preparing certain tangible and intangible things beforehand. For the support you deserve when navigating this process, please contact Alan Plevy at abplevy@smolenplevy.com or Kyung (Kathryn) Dickerson at kndickerson@smolenplevy.com.
