About 50% of marriages in today’s world end in divorce. Divorce describes the process of dissolving bonds of matrimony between a couple that has been legally remarried. Divorce sometimes involves a redistribution of responsibilities and a rearrangement of custody, particularly if there are children in the picture.
Choosing to follow through with a divorce isn’t an easy decision to make. People should undergo a thorough process, some levels of therapy, or a full assessment of the marriage before filing for a divorce. Divorce should be considered as the last straw. It’s also important to be aware that one shouldn’t stay in a marriage or endure ill-treatment because they fear divorce or separation. These are some of the things to consider before filing for divorce.
selective focus of couple sitting at table with divorce documents
- Be Sure About Your Decision
Divorce is a very complicated process that has very complicated consequences. Depending on whether you’re married in common of property, with a prenup, or anything else, you may find it to be tedious, lengthy, and emotionally challenging. Filing for a divorce should be a well-thought decision and you should make sure to ask yourself whether you’re ready for divorce and what it entails.
You could be surer of your decision if you’ll consult a marriage counsellor about it, a legal advisor, police authorities if it’s due to criminal offences, or family members. If you live in Agoura Hills, it is also recommended that you consult with a therapist who is experienced in dealing with divorce cases. A good marriage and family therapist in Agoura Hills can provide valuable insight into your situation and help you make an informed decision. Some divorces are cancelled numerous times due to a large sense of indecisiveness. Be sure and firm in your decision when filing for a divorce because this allows for everything that lies in the divorce process to be more steady and less emotional.
- Get Yourself A Divorce Attorney
Litigation describes the act of carrying out a lawsuit or resorting to a court case. Sometimes couples carry out a divorce and follow through with the process without litigation. This is because they’re well agreed in their decision, it’s less expensive, and it’s much easier. However, filing and going through with a divorce may not be as seamless for you.
Divorces sometimes entail the splitting of custody, redistribution of property and assets, review of finances, and many other valuable things in life. A divorce attorney may help ensure that everything is distributed fairly or in your favor and thus grant you some peace of mind. Your lawyer should be willing and capable to comfortably litigate your case to a judge and represent you well. Make sure you interview a range of divorce lawyers before marking a final decision to see which one is well equipped for your case.
- Sort Out Your Finances
Finances are a very important part of marriages, particularly marriages that have been in a long term. When you’ve accumulated either wealth or some levels of debt, you have to make sure that the logistics surrounding them are well intact before filing for a divorce. Be sure to have a clear understanding of who owns what and what’s going to be shared equally.
Most of the time the sharing of assets falls on the marriage contract that you signed. There are two common types, a community of property, where all assets are shared equally, and an antenuptial marriage, where assets aren’t shared. It’s important that you’re conscious of the terms of your contract before filing for a divorce because it may be a financially tedious process.
Make sure to review some of the assets that aren’t obvious in terms of who owns them, such as established inheritances and pension plans. Also, make sure to assess your debt and ensure that the money you owe is distributed fairly between you and your spouse.
- Joint Credit Accounts Should Be Closed
If you’re financially stable and you’re able to be so, it may be worthwhile to close all your joint credit accounts before you separate. If the account is closed, you and your partner won’t be able to make use of the account and build up charges that you have to confront later in your lives after you’ve separated.
However, if you’re unable to fully pay off certain accounts, negotiations can be made with a creditor and you may be allowed to pay less than the full amount required. For this process, you may be required to obtain a letter from the creditor stating that the account has been paid off as well as a written legal promise that nothing derogatory surrounding the account will be filed to various credit reporting agencies.
Judge gavel with Justice lawyers deciding, consultation on marriage divorce between married couple and signing divorce documents on table. Concepts of Law and Legal sevices.
Given that you’re not in a financial position to pay off even the compromised amount, you may have to consider getting your accounts frozen. You won’t be able to use the account but it’s better than using it and accumulating more charges that you can’t pay off. In this case, however, the responsibility of paying any charges off falls upon the person that’s responsible for debt payoffs once the divorce is finalized.
Make Your Decision
Once you’re conscious of the different aspects of a divorce, you should then delve into the things like financial factors surrounding divorces and the nitty gritties of filing a divorce. These pieces of advice may assist you in re-evaluating your decision and ensuring that it’s the right decision for you and your marriage.
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